Illinois Jury Says Personal Injury Lawyer Liable in Crash

A Cook County jury says a personal injury lawyer should pay nearly $400,000 to a Wheaton man injured when the lawyer’s SUV smashed through the window of a fast-food restaurant in downtown Chicago.

Timothy Kelleher was injured on Dec. 1, 2005 when the SUV driven by Sheldon Aberman left a parking garage, clipped a pedestrian and then plowed into the restaurant.

Kelleher’s attorney, Robert Walsh, said his client was eating at a window counter and suffered a fractured ankle and other injuries that required surgery.

Pedestrian David Duggan of Chicago suffered a leg injury.

During the trial, Aberman denied that he was liable, saying he fainted just moments before the crash.

The jury handed down a verdict late Wednesday that awarded Kelleher about $393,000 and Duggan nearly $24,000.