Appellate Court of Illinois

Directed verdict on various counts and a jury verdict on one count in favor of the defendant in a products liability action arising out of injuries plaintiff sustained as a result of a fire that ignited in his automobile is reversed and remanded where: 1) the court erred in granting the directed verdict regarding the strict liability claim since the evidence presented favored defendant as to preclude plaintiff of a verdict on that claim; 2) the court erred in granting directed verdict on the negligence claim since there was enough evidence regarding foreseeability; 3) plaintiff's claim that the verdict was against the weight of the evidence is waived since his arguments are conclusory and undeveloped; 4) the court did not abuse its discretion in denying plaintiff's motion in limine to exclude evidence of intoxication; 5) plaintiff waived the issue as to improper comments made during trial since he did not object; 6) the court correctly prevented plaintiff's expert witness to present unsubstantiated conclusory opinions; and 7) the court properly instructed the jury with regard to contributory negligence.

Appellate Information

• Decided 05/23/2007
• Published 05/23/2007

Judges

• Justice KARNEZIS delivered the opinion of the court:

Court

• Appellate Court of Illinois

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• William J. Harte, Ltd., Chicago (William J. Harte, of counsel) and Law Office of Christopher Patrick Ford, Chicago (Christopher Patrick Ford, of counsel), for Appellant.


• For Appellees:
  
• Kirkland and Ellis LLP, Chicago (Jay P. Lefkowitz, Susan E. Engel, Jeffrey B. Wall and Angela M. Butcher, of counsel), for Appellee.