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By: Dwyer & Coogan, P.C.

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Jim Coogan
Dwyercoogan
Jessica O'Brien

Latest from Dwyer & Coogan Blog

The Incident A 74-years old woman with a long history of rheumatoid arthritis and partial dementia was admitted to a Chicago area nursing facility for rehabilitation care. She had deconditioned during a recent hospital stay to treat sickness and dehydration. She had mobility limitations. Staff apparently failed to adjust their treatment when she developed a urinary infection after two weeks in the facility. She experienced a fall in the middle of the night that caused a severe head injury. The brain trauma led to her death. She left behind a husband of 55 years. The Result – $775,000 settlement for…
The Incident A 42-year-old School Maintenance Engineer fell from a ladder, and landed on his heel. This fractured the heel-end of his tibia. The injury developed into a severe pain condition that prevented him from returning to work. This was after several years of attempted medical treatment. The Result – $450,000 settlement for future lost wages .fusion-widget-area-3 {background-color:#0c2a36;}.fusion-widget-area-3 {padding:20px 20px 20px 20px;}.fusion-widget-area-3 .widget h4 {color:#ffffff;}.fusion-widget-area-3 .widget .heading h4 {color:#ffffff;} Search for: Categories Car Accidents Constitutional Law Construction Injuries Cycling Fall Injuries Insurance Legal Justice Medical Negligence News Nursing Product Liability Record of Results Uncategorized Work Injuries Record of Results Failure …
Jim Coogan Joins The Ben Joravsky Show to Discuss Legal Issues This week, our own Jim Coogan joined The Ben Joravsky Show Podcast do discuss legal issues of the day. This is the latest in their series of segments entitled, “How Is This Legal?” In this episode, Jim and Ben discussed upcoming Supreme Court arguments, including the potential for the Court to rule on the power of Congress and the State of New York to subpoena the President’s financial records. They also discussed a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision where Justice Kavanaugh outlined the precedent for overturning precedent. Last, they…
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Change In Illinois Work Comp Law Protects Front Line Workers EMTs and other Front Line Workers are vital in these perilous times. Illinois Work Comp. Comm’n. Strengthens Claims by First Responders and Workers Exposed to COVID-19 Protection is perhaps the most-pressing worry on every person’s mind during these dangerous and frightening times. Some helpful news broke last week when the IWCC announced an Emergency Amendment to their Rules of Evidence for on-the-job exposure to COVID-19. The world is in the grips of a global health crisis. But this pandemic has shone a stark light on the jobs that are critical…
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Coogan on the Ben Joravsky Show Talking COVID-19 Ben Joravsky hosts an informative and entertaining daily podcast discussing politics and the news of the day. Our Jim Coogan Speaks with Columnist and Host Ben Joravsky about the Courts and Elections Law in the COVID-19 Era The Ben Joravsky Show is a daily podcast where host, Ben Joravsky chats with public officials, journalists, lawmakers and newsmakers about the issues of the day. Jim Coogan has been a regular guest, discussing law and policy. This month, the most pressing issue facing the entire world is the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus.…
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We Are Here When You Need Us The lawyers of Dwyer & Coogan are committed to your case. These are unprecedented times. It is difficult for any living American to find a comparison. On one hand, we all face the serious risk of infection by a rampant virus and on the other, the economy has ground to a trickle due to social restrictions and business closures. While COVID-19’s mortality rate is not extraordinarily high, it is high. And even those who survive a bout of the disease suffer serious symptoms and often require intensive medical care. But your lawyers are…
Dwyer & Coogan Serving Our Clients In this Moment of Uncertainty Firm Continues Operations The news regarding the novel COVID-19 coronavirus is disturbing and is rapidly evolving. In the past few business days, the country witnessed the Declaration of a National Emergency and the State of Illinois has issued wide-ranging restrictions on social interaction and business operation. It is hectic. And it is frightening. In the face of this public health crisis, the first thing on your mind is the health and safety of your loved ones. Understandably, the status of a lawsuit or injury claim may not be your…
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Healthcare Staff Responsible for Falls From the Start Nursing patients are vulnerable and deserve protection. Experts Cite Training, Assessment, and Education as the way to Prevent Fall Injuries for Vulnerable Residents. The job for nursing staff to protect residents and patients begins right at admission. That is how the Director of Nursing expert in charge of a St. Louis-area nursing home explains it. As outlined recently in the Medical provider news resource, MedPage Today, Michelle Kimball, RN, BSN, emphasized that the first thing staff must do: “get to know their patient.” The need for familiarity is because patient care…
WGN Highlights Indoor Skydiving Risks News investigation featured our own Jim Coogan identifying legal issues for the recreational activity. Originally airing on November 26, 2019 during the WGN News at 9, WGN reporter Meghan Dwyer profiled the safety risks of iFly Indoor Skydiving. The piece examined some of the injury risk facing participants in the skydiving simulator. As shown in the video attached to the article, the company simulates free falling with a grated floor over a giant fan. Participants step inside a glass tube that funnels the air upwards. Consumers have reported several shoulder injuries resulting from the activity.…
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VISION ZERO INITIATIVE–MIXED RESULTS In 2+ Years, Road Fatalities Fall, But Danger Remains It has been more than 2 years since the City of Chicago adopted a plan to make roads safer. The “Vision Zero” plan aimed to reduce traffic casualties by promoting better sight lines, safe zones, and protection for cyclists. As the Chicago Tribune reported, the numbers suggest progress. Traffic fatalities for the first 10 months of 2019 were down to 77 from 109 in the same period in 2017. The reality is that it’s getting safer to be in a vehicle, even in a crash–thanks to…
Ben Joravsky Show Podcast (11/2/19) Jim Coogan Discusses Impeachment & The Law Below is a link to a recent Bonus Edition of “The Ben Joravsky Show,” where Jim Coogan returns to the show answer Ben’s usual question: “How Is This Legal?” In this episode, Ben and Jim examine some of the legal arguments being put forth by the president’s lawyers outside of Impeachment. They also discuss the rapidly-developing evidence of wrongdoing by President Trump and the Impeachment process. Jim answers important questions about the uncommon legal issues that arise when Congress exercises its unique authority over Impeachment. Specifically,…
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US House Passed the FAIR Act–Restricts Arbitration Law could Restrict Arbitration Clauses in Employment and Consumer Contracts Access to the Courtroom is the only real protection of your rights. This column has previously brought attention to the scourge of private arbitration contracts and how they restrict access to justice and unfairly tilt the playing field in favor of large companies and against individuals. An “Arbitration Clause” is language in a contract for goods or services that states that the parties agree to waive their rights to trial before a judge and jury. Instead, they agree to resolve contract disputes by…
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A GREATER HARM The system is not comfortable discussing medical errors. RECENT STUDIES CONFIRM THAT PATIENTS INJURED FROM MEDICAL ERRORS SUFFER MORE THAN PHYSICALLY In the United States, medical errors are estimated to be the third-leading cause of death. Indeed, a study in the Journal of Patient Safety published in 2013 criticized outdated estimates, and put the number at approximately 440,000 annual deaths in the United States from medical errors.  You read that number correctly. It would represent one-sixth of American deaths, annually. This was an update from a 1999 study in ProPublica, “To Err Is Human,”…
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If you were injured because of someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to substantial compensation. In Illinois, that compensation usually includes money for economic losses, such as medical bills, as well as non-economic losses, such as pain and suffering. Since so much is at stake, it’s important to choose the right personal injury attorney. Here are a few things to look for when seeking the best attorney for your needs. Accessibility The attorney-client relationship works best when it is a partnership. Your partner should be accessible and ready to answer your questions. There are so many questions that…
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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which handles workplace safety issues, is one of the smallest federal agencies. Even with its state partners, OSHA only has one inspector for every 59,000 workers. As a result, workplace injuries are fairly common. These victims have access to no-fault benefits that take care of their medical bills, lost wages, and other economic losses. Illinois workplace injury victims also have the right to choose their own doctors. So, a workers’ compensation attorney can connect victims with top physicians in a certain injury field. Yet despite their best efforts, some job injury victims never…
The Incident A 61-year-old woman with lung and heart problems went to University of Chicago Medical Center in 2014 for her increasing shortness of breath. The doctor did a catheter procedure to measure pressures in her heart and caused damage to the access artery in the groin. After an attempt to fix the artery and 3 days of monitoring, she was discharged. The next morning, she began to bleed internally. After attempts to save her at another hospital, she was dead a day later. The Result James Coogan and Caroleann Gallagher presented the case before a jury that found the…