Department store owner and operator, Target Corporation, (Target), as well as a prominent mechanical door manufacturer, have agreed to pay $7 million to an 81 year-old woman injured when an automatic door at the Target store in Rosemont, Illinois, malfunctioned and knocked her to the ground. It is a record settlement in Cook County, Illinois, for a brain injury to a woman 60 years old or older. Chicago personal injury lawyers, Philip Harnett Corboy, Jr., and Kenneth T. Lumb of the Corboy & Demetrio law firm, represented the injured woman.
On June 21, 2007, Claire Putman was entering the Target store located at 7000 Mannheim Road in Rosemont. As she walked through the entrance, the door malfunctioned and closed before she successfully maneuvered through the entry. Putman, a slight woman, was knocked over and hit her head when she fell to the ground. Her head was hit a second time by the door when it continued to open and close.
Putman was taken to Lutheran General Hospital and eventually diagnosed with a subdural hematoma. The bleed “blossomed” to the extent that she needed a craniotomy and evacuation of the hematoma. As a result, she has suffered brain damage that has left her with some cognitive deficits. She has lived in a nursing home since the incident because of the injuries she sustained.
Prior to being injured, Putman was retired and living on a fixed income with her 59 year-old daughter, who was semi-dependent upon her for care.
Corboy & Lumb contended that Target, the owner and operator of the mechanical doors, failed to inspect and properly maintain the doors at the store, while also failing to properly follow the safety guidelines provided by the door manufacturer, co-defendant, Besam USA, Inc., (Besam). They also maintained that Besam, the company that designed and manufactured the door and its component parts, failed to design and manufacture a system that would prevent purchasers – like Target – from turning off its failsafe system and failed to provide external noise and sound alerts when the system malfunctions, much like it malfunctioned in this situation.
Personal injury lawyer Corboy stated:
Claire was a lovely, spunky woman who had advanced into her senior years with grace and a dedication to her two children, especially to her 59 year-old daughter who lived with her for a number of years due to her special needs. As a result of what happened two years ago, Claire has been robbed of that ability to take care of her oldest daughter, as well as to enjoy the remaining years of her life the way she had planned. The three Putman ladies are a portrait of a family that will circle the wagons and provide love, care and attention to each other despite this life-changing event. I have all of the faith in the world that this settlement will allow Claire to live out the rest of her life with dignity at the home she’s lived in for over 50 years.
The settlement order was signed by Cook County Circuit Court Judge Deborah Mary Dooling.
The Northern Trust Company and Kay Putman, as Co-Guardians of the Estate of Claire Putman, a disabled person v. Target Corporation, a corporation, and Besam USA, Inc. Case number 07 L 7255B.
About Corboy & Demetrio
Corboy & Demetrio is one of the nation’s premier personal injury law firms. It represents individuals and their families in serious personal injury and wrongful death cases and is renowned for its achievements in the courtroom and for its contributions to the community. The rights and concerns of its clients are at the core of Corboy & Demetrio’s practice. That commitment, dedication, compassion and relentless drive has resulted in exceptional service and exceptional results for its clients. The firm has acquired more than $3 billion in settlements and verdicts and has attained almost 600 settlements and verdicts in excess of $1 million.
For further information, contact Mary Neville, Communications Director at 312.346.3191 or mjn (at) corboydemetrio (dot) com.
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