* A few years ago, Bruce Rauner’s running mate Evelyn Sanguinetti slipped and fell at the College Avenue Train Station in Wheaton.
According to Jon Zahm, Sanguinetti then sued Wheaton (her home town), DuPage County, METRA, the Union Pacific Railroad, the Illinois Prairie Path Corporation, and the DuPage County Dept. of Transportation.
* According to a copy of Sanguinetti’s suit that Zahm forwarded me, Sanguinetti demanded at least $50,000 each from Wheaton and Metra and unspecified damages from the others.
Zahm is a major Rauner hater, but he’s had some interesting posts on his Rauner-hating blog, including some deets on the Sanguinetti lawsuit…
These are mostly taxpayer funded entities. When they are sued, the cost of government services rise to pay off the settlements and costs of litigation, and to cover the costs of increased insurance premiums. So what did these entities do to Evelyn to receive the wrath of her six count lawsuit?
Let me use exact words from her suit filed on her behalf by Chicago lawyer Ronald Stearney, Jr.:
“Allowed and permitted said sidewalk where pedestrians walked and frequently and necessarily used to enter and exit the College Avenue Train Station to remain, when said Defendant knew or should have known that said sidewalk caused an unnatural accumulation of water, snow, ice or other dangerous substances, which in turn posed a dangerous condition, especially to the Plaintiff Evelyn R. Sanguinetti.”
The suit goes on to say, 8 other ways, very similar things about the sidewalk on the way to that train station. Got to love legalese.
Unbelievable. You fall on a sidewalk while walking to the train and blame the government and penalize the taxpayers where you live and work.
And ask for at least a hundred large.
Zahm says he believes the suit was settled.
*** UPDATE *** From the Rauner campaign…
Evelyn was not after a “big payday.” The case was settled and Evelyn gave the net proceeds to Operation Support Our Troops. She was subsequently elected to an at-large position on Wheaton City Council.
She sued two entities for at least 50 large each. In my book, that’s a big payday. And whatever she did with the proceeds makes no difference. If she didn’t need the money, why get all those lawyers involved?
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 11:55 am:
This should help her in Madison County.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 11:57 am:
Usually we just say someone is “playing the victim”, rarely do they go to court to PLAY the victim.
Well, I hope Evelyn’s fingers were ok, piano playing and all that …
- Nearly Normal - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 11:59 am:
She’s a lawyer–what do you expect?
- Norseman - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 12:00 pm:
Did a train roll over her legs and amputate them? Geez, $100,000 for a fall. McDonald’s everywhere, DO NOT SERVE this woman any coffee. Illinoisans, DO NOT VOTE for this self-serving self-aggrandizing duo.
- foster brooks - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 12:00 pm:
Rauner will put her to task on work comp legislation. Lol
- And I Approved This Message - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 12:01 pm:
Did she get less because she didn’t have that far to fall?
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 12:02 pm:
47, that’s very funny.
The old slip-and-fall lawsuit game. Unbelievable.
About 15 years ago, I slipped and fell on the steps going up to the Green Line on Ridgeland.
Cracked a couple of ribs. Nothing you can do about cracked ribs. It only hurts when you breathe.
Eventually, they heal, but ever few years or so, when you turn or twist funny, when you least expect it, they crack again and you think you’ve having a heart attack.
Still, I never felt the need to penalize the taxpayers for the fact that I was a klutz.
- Nearly Normal - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 12:03 pm:
From her own website–
“I first discovered Wheaton in 2000 when my work as a lawyer required me to take the train into the downtown station. At first sight, I knew this was where I wanted to settle down and raise my children.”
And the same page says–”As an attorney, my practice has centered around representing municipalities, public officials and police officers. I have seen first hand some of the problems facing government and our front line defenders like police officers, and it has been a great honor to be able to represent them and solve their problems. Right now, Wheaton is facing many problems.”
So she slipped, fell, and sued knowing that’s what happens to municipalities?
- Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 12:03 pm:
I just hope she doesn’t get charged for wifi at a Hyatt. Look out.
- DuPage Rep - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 12:05 pm:
This is an old Wheaton story that Jeanne Ives used against her in the 2011 campaign. Case settled for 10K and the money was given to charity. She ran for office in 2011 on a platform of improving sidewalks and infrastructure. Seems like the Wheaton voters agreed with her.
- too obvious - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 12:06 pm:
Zahm is doing some good work. It’s thanks to more laundered funds from Dillard’s camp, but it’s good work nonetheless.
The $10,000 “nuisance” settlement has been an open secret in DuPage for a long time. Story has always been that Sanguinett says she gave that to charity. Someone should ask to see a copy of the cancelled check.
In any case, I think it’s fair to say this was not Rauner’s first choice and maybe not his second. It’s a lame move by a weak running mate.
- Chi - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 12:06 pm:
The issue here is her/Rauner’s hypocrisy. There is nothing wrong with a person filing a lawsuit. There’s nothing to show it was “frivolous” in any way. The problem is the makers/takers narrative that Rauner is trying to sell, and how his pay-to-play pension deals, use of clout to get his daughter into the kind of unionized CPS school he constantly rails against, and lawsuits like this contradict that narrative.
Also Norseman, the NY Times conveniently addressed the McDonald’s issue just yesterday. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/21/booming/not-just-a-hot-cup-anymore.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0
- DuPage Rep - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 12:07 pm:
Also, the charity was Operation Support our Troops. Evelyn did not make a dime off this, and that is what she told the Daily Herald editorial board which endorsed her over Jeanne Ives.
- Denny Savard - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 12:11 pm:
She loves her train stations. On her website she has a photo in front of the other (non college) Wheaton train station. http://evelynforwheaton.org/Home.html
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 12:12 pm:
===Evelyn did not make a dime off this===
It is what it is. She sued for at least a hundred large after she slipped and fell. Since she gave away the money, she didn’t really need the cash, so why bother suing in the first place and causing all those entities to hire lawyers?
- William j Kelly - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 12:12 pm:
Anyone who has ever visited the state Capitol knows how slippery the stais are, if she is elected this could end up costing the taxpayers millions in statehouse slip and fall Insurance!!!
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 12:17 pm:
If Evelyn “Slip and Sue” Sanguinetti thinks its fine to just sue, and then “give away” the proceeds, costing taxpayers monies “Slip and Sue” was never going to have for herself, how is “Slip and Sue” looking out for the taxpayers?
If I was anyone hosting a “coffee”, or a compnay hosting “Slip and Sue” to speak for the campaign, have Legal Counsel present at all times.
“PPC & Slip and Sue” - winning in the Bond Rooms, winnning and “donating” in the Court Rooms.
- Raymond - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 12:19 pm:
Better get Travis Akin on the horn, pronto - smells like “lawsuit abuse”!!!
- Jimmy CrackCorn - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 12:21 pm:
Chi- well said.
My understanding of slip-and-fall lawsuits is if you just slip on ice in a parking lot, there are no grounds for a suit. If the ice had accumulated specifically because a gutter was broken and pouring water onto that spot, you have case.
Keep that in mind today if you’re looking to make a quick buck off of our first dusting today in No. IL.
- Right Field - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 12:22 pm:
Gotta love how Zahm calls a 2007 story Breaking News. I guess it’s news to him… old news to the rest of the world.
If the issue didn’t hurt her when she ran for City Council in Wheaton, I think I’d label the story “much ado about nothing”.
Yawn.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 12:23 pm:
If I was the Secretary of State Police at the Capitol, they need to have “Slip and Sue” sign wavers ASAP, and if I were them, I would be thinking “wheel chair, escort, waiver with escort” at all times.
If she wins, do we get her a neck brace, signed by all of us?
- Norseman - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 12:24 pm:
=== Evelyn did not make a dime off this, and that is what SHE TOLD the Daily Herald editorial board ===
See “Bringing it on himself” post about politician statements.
The donation was made by the taxpayers because some lawyer had a boo boo.
- too obvious - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 12:25 pm:
“It is what it is. She sued for at least a hundred large after she slipped and fell. Since she gave away the money, she didn’t really need the cash, so why bother suing in the first place and causing all those entities to hire lawyers?”
Well said Rich.
And what kind of lawyers did Wheaton have that they didn’t even get this thing dismissed on governmental immunity grounds? Now she’s on the Wheaton city council. It’s curious.
- DuPage Rep - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 12:26 pm:
@ Mr. Miller, Sometimes lawsuits are filed to make a point. Wheaton, which never settles anything unless they see major laibility (that’s their reputation in Court)only paid beucause they had to. A party wanting to make a point settles for low monetary amounts. She disclosed all of this to the Wheaton voters in her 2011 election, and ran on a platform of safe sidewalks.
- Skeeter - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 12:36 pm:
Interesting that Jon Zahm of all people would believe that is an issue.
Zahm worked for Rick Santorum, who really really REALLY hated personal injury lawsuits.
Until, that is, Santorum’s wife felt a twinge of pain from a chiropractor. Then Rick and spouse sued the chiro for med mal.
So apparently filing PI suits is bad when the other guy does it. But not when your client does it.
Santorum’s wife sued for $500,000. Does that make Zahm’s client ten times as bad as Rauner’s pal?
One final note — “And ask for at least a hundred large.” No, she asked for an amount greater than $50,000.00. That is jurisdictional, to get the case into Law Division.
In state court in IL, the amount claimed in a PI suit needs to be stated only to the extent that it complies with the requirements of the division the case is filed in.
- KaneGal - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 12:36 pm:
Unfortunately, no matter what way you spin it this looks bad for Sanquinetti. However, it just makes whoever Zahm supports look worse. People are tired of this negative stuff and deserve better. And you wonder why more people don’t vote??
- Cook County Commoner - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 12:36 pm:
Ms. Sanguinetti’s lawsuit was good for the economy. It provided work not only for her lawyer and several defense lawyers, but it also provided work for staff at the lawfirms and court personell that processed the suit papers. And don’t forget the hefty filing and appearance fees all the parties paid to the court. Then there’s paper consumption, internet services, toner, etc. Oh, I almost forgot the insurance companies. Each of the defendants probably are insured. Probably the claim didn’t reach a coverage level, but some insurance company employees had to look it over, creating more ecomic activty.
And don’t forget, lawyers are big campaign contributors, so the lawsuit generated cash (her lawyer and the defense lawyers got paid), some of which made it back mostly to Dems, but the Repubs will get a piece.
Considering the sad state of Illinois’ economy, her filng was patriotic.
- Been There - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 12:37 pm:
I slipped and fell on some ice on my way into voting. Broke my leg. Still hoppeled into vote though. Amazing how many people asked me if I was going to sue. Like the city was suppose to walk in front of me with a shovel and salt. Guess what. It gets cold and snows in Chicago.
- BlankSlate - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 12:41 pm:
John Zahm pass negative info along about another candidate…with his own twist? No way!
Now I’m definitely voting for Rauner/Sanquinetti.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 12:41 pm:
I think Pat Quinn should have chose “Slip and Sue”.
Between Quinn fighting off the Unconstitutional Veto, and “Slip and Sue” finding some place to wear her neck brace, we would know where the Guv. and LG would be …Court.
- too obvious - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 12:41 pm:
“. . . and ran on a platform of safe sidewalks.”
Indeed a courageous move as she went against the unsafe sidewalks special interests. We know how powerful they are.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 12:45 pm:
BlankSlate, KaneGal and Dinosaur are all posting talking points from the same IP address. Sock puppetry is outlawed here, whoever you are, so you’re now banned for life.
Seeya.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 12:46 pm:
“Dear Bruce Rauner,
A tip.
Do not bring “Slip and Sue” Sanguinetti to Rauner Prep High School.
One bad step and “Slip and Sue” might request Rauner Prep be changed to “Sanguinetti Prep”, you know, just to settle and make a point, not for the money.
Waivers, Bruce … waivers.
Your Pal,
Oswego Willy”
- MrJM - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 12:47 pm:
Your thought process is a marvel to behold.
– MrJM
- Jimmy CrackCorn - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 12:48 pm:
@RightField- I agree with you that this is a non-issue and probably will have no traction (pardon the pun).
But, are you really arguing that the vetting and media scrutiny of a DuPage County Village Board election is comparable to a Gubernatorial race?
- Pot calling kettle - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 1:04 pm:
==this is a non-issue and probably will have no traction==
Maybe, maybe not. Clever ad creators could make a lots of hay with this kind of thing. Think about that short clip of Judy Barr-Topinka on stage with George Ryan, nodding her head and how the Blago people played that over and over and over…
- Pete - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 1:07 pm:
===Evelyn did not make a dime off this===
It is what it is. She sued for at least a hundred large after she slipped and fell. Since she gave away the money, she didn’t really need the cash, so why bother suing in the first place and causing all those entities to hire lawyers?
—–
To get someone to take care of the location that is dangerous to commuters. The goal is to get a penalty from these agencies so that they step up and correct the neglect and improve the situation.
Sounds like a valid approach.
- too obvious - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 1:07 pm:
Better call Saul.
- RMW Stanford - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 1:12 pm:
Maybe because if there was a legmit situation that was dangerous to commuters there are other ways to get it correct with out using tax payers money for legal cost, ect
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 1:14 pm:
===The goal is to get a penalty from these agencies so that they step up and correct the neglect and improve the situation.===
So “Slip and Sue” Sanguinetti is such an incredible pillar of the community, the only way the community was to take her seriously was to … sue?
Pretty pathetic attempt to “change for the better”, unless you are not taken very seriously to begin with when you are hiring Personal Injury lawyers to take on local government and transportation agnecies.
I hope, instead of the boring coffeee mugs, or yard signs, the Rauner/Sanguinetti ticket comes out with medical devices you can wear to court to win these cases, like a neck brace with Rauner/Sanguinetti on it, or even wheelchairs with Rauner/Sanguinetti on the back, those type of campaign trinkets, to make it reall yhit home “Slip and Sue” was about … the people … when suing.
- Red Ranger - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 1:16 pm:
DuPageRep, two points: If she was litigating to “make a point,” first, she as an attorney should probably take a refresher course in Professional Responsibility, and second, why settle for $10,000? If Wheaton, Metra et al was negligent, why not settle with the agreement that the iced-over area be fixed? When someone says its not about the, money, well you know…
- MrJM - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 1:16 pm:
Rauner campaign: She had to
destroy… uhh… sue the village in order to save it.– MrJM
- Ghost - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 1:16 pm:
For what its worth. The law says that landowners are not liable for natural accumulations of ice and snow. Thus legally you get punished if you shovel your sidewlak and creat an unatural accumulation.
This lawsuit is basically an attempt to get around the normal you are responsible for what is open and obvious, and taking personal responsibility to be careful in bad weather.
When you see a suit like this, it cries out that the plaintiff is refusing to take basic responsiblity for themselves…. and wants to require the governemtn to look out for them instead.
I guess thats what Rauner seeks, a governemnt that removes personal responsibility and assumes protection of all its citizens.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 1:17 pm:
–BlankSlate, KaneGal and Dinosaur are all posting talking points from the same IP address. Sock puppetry is outlawed here, whoever you are, so you’re now banned for life.–
It’s so hard to find smart people, isn’t it Bruce?
- Chi - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 1:20 pm:
God forgive me for defending someone who agreed to run on Bruce Rauner’s ticket, but:
Just Compensation is never a “big payday”. If a jury awards her an amount, the jury has deemed that she is OWED the money for the damage she incurred. If a settlement is reached, it’s because a defendant feels a jury may award her more money than the settlement. It’s not a lottery, or a payday. It’s a jury deciding that the law requires the responsible entity to pay for the damage it has caused. It’s about accountability, something conservatives love to care about when it suits them, and love to overlook when it doesn’t.
- late to the party - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 1:24 pm:
If she was so concerned about the sidewalk conditions, how about donating the $10k to, you know, fixing the sidewalk conditions.
- MrJM - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 1:26 pm:
“It’s so hard to find smart people, isn’t it Bruce?”
Don’t worry, he’s gonna hire rilly smart folks after he gets elected.
– MrJM
- Ron Burgundy - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 1:26 pm:
There are ways to make a point and improve safety, if it really needs to be improved, without suing a municipality, causing them to incur legal fees and paying what amounted to a nuisance settlement. That the settlement money went to an otherwise worthwhile charity is irrelevant. It’s money the municipality had to pay, that it would not have otherwise had to pay, and could no longer use for its own needs. Why not give them the money back to fix the problem? At the end of the day the city was out its fees and the settlement, and the problem remained unfixed.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 1:30 pm:
Did “Slip and Sue” dontate the entire $10K, or what was left after legal fees?
So, in other words, if “Slip and Sue” Sanguinetti donated the $10K, who paid her lawyer? Did “Slip and Sue”, and further, the medical costs, did “Slip and Sue” pays those out of her own pocket too?
So, if “Slip and Sue” donated the $10K, and paid her attorneys, and paid what was left medically, wouldn’t you call that the most ignorant way to make a point? Do we want “Slip and Sue” negotiating anything fiscal, given that financailly this was an utter disaster?
Yikes!
- 4 percent - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 1:34 pm:
I love the fact that when you look up her D2s from the local election, she receives the bulk of her reported money from the labor unions (IBEW, carpenters, building trades, etc). I’m curious how these supporters feel about her running mate’s desire for Right to Work and other anti-labor proposals.
- hisgirlfriday - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 1:35 pm:
Not to be too insensitive here, but I again ask whether this slip and fall lawsuit incident at the center of the lawsuit was the same slip and fall incident that she mentioned during her introduction as Rauner’s running mate that had led to her MS diagnosis?
Because if she fell because she had MS, then why did Wheaton or whoever need to pay her $10,000? And did the agency know she had MS at the time they paid out that in a settlement?
- PublicServant - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 1:37 pm:
Hey, the good news, Rich, is that Rauner’s crew is keeping tabs on your blog. Not gonna let you get away with those lib, taker views of yours!
- RMW Stanford - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 1:37 pm:
I would aruge that just becuase a jury awards a settlement does not mean that it is just settlement or that the amount accurate reflect the damages incured. There is long track recored of that not being the case. Settling does not always mean that the person who settled was liable, it can also mean that the componation of the risk of losing plus the legal cost was high enough to make it safer the alternative.
- Timmeh - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 1:38 pm:
I agree with Chi and DupageRep. As long as the ruling was fair and Wheaton was really at fault, then the only difference between Sanguinetti suing and somebody else suing is where the money went from the settlement. Is 100k about as much as someone else would have sued for? Probably. Should she not have sued for as much because of her background as a lawyer? No, that’s not fair. If it’s a just claim, it shouldn’t matter who you are.
And as DuPageRep said, she afterwards ran for office and won in the city that she sued. Voters would have been the victims of an unjust suit and they would have voted against her if they thought she was “slipping for cash”.
- Skeeter - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 1:39 pm:
“If a settlement is reached, it’s because a defendant feels a jury may award her more money than the settlement.”
Often that is not the case. An expert on a case like this can easily cost $15,000.00. Some cases settle due to risk. Others settle due to cost of litigation.
- hisgirlfriday - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 1:41 pm:
@4 Percent - Good find on the D2s. Also the 2011 personal loans she made to her campaign mention her employer as Travelers but I don’t remember that being part of her bio as disclosed by the Rauner campaign. What did she do for Travelers? Does she still work there?
- Diogenes in DuPage - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 1:41 pm:
Slip & Sue — just another DuPage Republican in favor of smaller government (but large insurance policies.)
- Chavez-respecting Obamist - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 1:43 pm:
I suppose this is her way to shrink the government.
- MrJM - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 1:46 pm:
History’s wisest agree that a $100,000 lawsuit was the only possible road to improvement.
“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot sue, the courage to sue the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” — Reinhold Niebuhr
“You must sue the change you wish to see in the world.” — Mahatma Gandhi
“Never believe that a few litigious people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have.” — Margaret Mead
“To improve is to sue; to be perfect is to sue often.” — Winston Churchill
“We cannot change anything until we sue it.” — Carl Jung
And, of course, the Golden Rule: “Sue unto others as you would have them sue unto you”
– MrJM
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 1:49 pm:
The insurance cost of hosting a LG Debate just tripled.
Steve Jil and Maria may just want to “wave” hello at a safe distance.
Thank goodness they may only have one.
- Skeeter - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 1:50 pm:
Ghost, I don’t think you are properly describing “unnatural accumulation.”
As you noted, generally there is no duty to remove natural accumulations of snow and ice.
However, if a landowner does so, they can’t make it worse.
So when a plaintiff can prove it, it does mean the landowner screwed up.
By the way, I have to love public policy in Illinois. Basically tort law gives you every incentive to leave snow and ice on your property. If you do so, you are not liable. If you try to be a nice person and remove it, you can get sued.
- Right Field - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 1:50 pm:
=== Jimmy CrackCorn - But, are you really arguing that the vetting and media scrutiny of a DuPage County Village Board election is comparable to a Gubernatorial race? ===
—
No, not at all. Just that she disclosed it fully when she was running for Council, and if the citizens of the town she sued didn’t have a problem with it, I’m thinking it’s nothing more than Zahm-slinging in this race.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 1:56 pm:
Can you see “Slip and Sue” on Chicago Tonight?
Phil Ponce - “Ms. Sanguinetti how will you be the person as Lt. Governor helping Bruce Rauner with his agenda?
Slip and Sue - “Well, for exanple, if I think a facility needs upgrading, I will vist, fall, sue the state, and settle, donating the money to a charity”
Ponce - “How is that helping?”
S & S - “Well, they are taught a lesson, like I taught Wheaton and the train people. they will learn alright!”
Ponce - “By suing?”
S & S - “Of course, and might I add (”Slip and Sue” falls off chair) “Oh Mr. Ponce, that question, it made the chair unsafe!”
Ponce - “And now to Carol Marin…”
- Bill White - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 2:02 pm:
As with workers comp reform, enacting a universal coverage single payer medical system could remove medical bill reimbursement from arena of “slip & fall” litigation.
- Cincinnatus - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 2:09 pm:
Rich,
I must congratulate you on your expanded base of new posters to the blog! Especially on Rauner posts…
- A guy... - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 2:13 pm:
====It is what it is. She sued for at least a hundred large after she slipped and fell. Since she gave away the money, she didn’t really need the cash, so why bother suing in the first place and causing all those entities to hire lawyers?===
That’s a lot of assumptions, maybe correct, maybe not. A “hundred large” is not a huge amount in a negligence lawsuit that did result in an injury. If she gave away the money so as not to reap a “personal reward” for this, that makes a difference to me. You might sue to prevent this from happening to someone else i.e. put down more salt or grit material. And finally, those entities already have lawyers, plenty of them. This strikes me as a cheap shot. Now, please give me a minute to put on a helmet before pounding me. I promise I won’t sue anyone.
- chad - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 2:16 pm:
This Plaintiff sued to bring home 100K based on broadly-despised common law. A 10K settlement would have netted her no more than 5K after payment of a typical 1/3 contingency legal fee and modest court fees. When it became clear that she was going to get such a minimal nuisance settlement, she probably had second thoughts about keeping it. The advantage of accepting 5K would have been greatly outweighed by the damage to a potential political career. What this says to me is that she was probably rolling the dice for a nice check, and would have kept it if it had been a big one. Viewed in the best light, she was ill-advised to file suit instead of visiting her city council and engaging in traditional political activity. At worst, she was greedily trying to strip funds from public entities to re-do her kitchen, and is now creating myths about her motivations. I despise it when a political actor tries to whitewash stupidity or illegality by donating ill-gotten gains to a charity. “I did nothing wrong, as is evidenced by my contribution of the cash to the injured soldiers!” This is pathetic, and evidence that this person can be expected to evade or shade facts in the future.
- Skeeter - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 2:17 pm:
Rauner’s denial is interesting.
Apparently it is bad for terribly injured people to seek large amounts of money (i.e., a big payday).
However, it is perfectly acceptable for a person with no apparent injury to file suit seeking in excess of $50,000.00 (i.e not a big pay day).
Or maybe Rauner has spent so much time around rich people that he doesn’t think $50,001.00 is much money.
That’s possible too.
Here’s a hint, Bruce — for most of us, $10,000 is a lot of money, even if it doesn’t go in our pocket. That’s a big pay day.
Does anybody know anything about her alleged injury?
- Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 2:29 pm:
-BlankSlate, KaneGal and Dinosaur are all posting talking points from the same IP address. Sock puppetry is outlawed here, whoever you are, so you’re now banned for life.–
Besides the IP address, did the fact that they, and only they, spelled it “Sanquinetti” tip you off, Rich?
#IsThatYouJason
- Skeeter - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 2:30 pm:
“She sued two entities for at least 50 large each.”
Ok, that’s the confusion.
One injury. The value of that injury is some unknown amount in excess of $50,000.00.
If she sues seven entities, she is not filing suit for $350,000. She’s filing suit for an amount in excess of $50,000.
This is due to Section 5/2-604 of the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure, which provides in relevant part:
“§ 2-604. Prayer for relief. Every count in every complaint and counterclaim shall contain specific prayers for the relief to which the pleader deems himself or herself entitled except that in actions for injury to the person, no ad damnum may be pleaded except to the minimum extent necessary to comply with the circuit rules of assignment where the claim is filed.. . In actions for injury to the person, any complaint filed which contains an ad damnum, except to the minimum extent necessary to comply with the circuit rules of assignment where the claim is filed, shall, on motion of a defendant or on the court’s own motion, be dismissed without prejudice.”
To comply with Law Division rules, you need to claim in excess of $50,000.00. That’s true if you sue one person or twenty.
- Timmeh - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 2:35 pm:
==Besides the IP address, did the fact that they, and only they, spelled it “Sanquinetti” tip you off, Rich?==
I’m glad I C&P’ed off OW for her name.
==To comply with Law Division rules, you need to claim in excess of $50,000.00. That’s true if you sue one person or twenty.==
Thanks Skeeter.
The important thing for me is to assume good faith. Until someone proves to me that Sanguinetti had ill-intent, I’m not going to judge her badly for suing. There’s plenty of other real issues that I can dislike Rauner for.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 2:46 pm:
Here’s a hint, Bruce — for most of us, $10,000 is a lot of money, even if it doesn’t go in our pocket. That’s a big pay day.
Well, looking at it one way, $10,000 in Franklins will light 100 cigars, and that IS a lot of cigars.
- chad - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 3:01 pm:
Timmeh:
There is no need to discern “good faith” or other intent in this case. One only needs to look at the actions she took. She sued for a large amount of cash, settled for a nuisance payment, and explained her motivation as being a good citizen trying to obtain better sidewalk maintenance. This is just a fishy story. Good citizens sue when there is either severe injury or an incompetent government entity, and that was not the case here. This was an example of poor judgment on her part, and that is the point. One needs to examine the candidates for their ability to use good judgment, not simply for their tendency to mean well.
- Skeeter - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 3:06 pm:
“Good citizens sue when there is either severe injury or an incompetent government entity, and that was not the case here.”
Interesting comment, Chad.
What was her injury?
I’ve read through the posts (and did a Google search) but could not find it.
Since you are sure it was not a major injury, can you share with the rest of us? What was the injury?
- Sun - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 3:16 pm:
Sock puppetry isn’t something new to these types. From the redditt-sphere
http://mediamatters.org/blog/2013/10/20/fox-news-reportedly-used-fake-commenter-account/196509
- orzo - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 3:18 pm:
Call me cynical, but I would like to see some proof she gave the settlement money away to a charity–it’s highly unusual to go to the trouble to hire a lawyer, file a lawsuit, and settle the case only to give it all away. I predict she will resist any effort to show evidence of her generosity. Also, this may be old news to some, but she was not a statewide candidate before. Some of us don’t follow local elections in towns far from our home.
- LincolnLounger - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 3:35 pm:
–BlankSlate, KaneGal and Dinosaur are all posting talking points from the same IP address. Sock puppetry is outlawed here, whoever you are, so you’re now banned for life.–
It’s so hard to find smart people, isn’t it Bruce?
Time to buy more people!!
- suey - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 4:01 pm:
Rauner; “She sued the village?”
Staffer who recomends carharts-”for a bunch of money”
Rauner; “and i’m finding this out now”
Over paid staffeer- “the better to fleece you sir”
Rauner: “what?”
Ops-”I meant you could say its racist, sexist, and anti-american to critize her for suing.”
- 4 percent - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 4:40 pm:
Perhaps as Lt. Governor, she can travel around the US and somehow slip and sue in every other state. Then she can donate the money to Illinois as a way of balancing the budget.
- Almost the Weekend - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 5:01 pm:
=BlankSlate, KaneGal and Dinosaur are all posting talking points from the same IP address. Sock puppetry is outlawed here, whoever you are, so you’re now banned for life.=
You think with Rauner’s high payroll you think his infrastructure wouldn’t be using the same IP Address
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 5:11 pm:
@FakeBruceRauner - I have learned alot from Ev. My next kid I will fall outside Payton Prep instead of calling Rahm #LitigationBeatsClouting
@FakeBruceRauner - Ev was my 3rd choice, but when you are being served papers by Ev, you give in #SeeYouInCourtOrOnTheTrailBrucey
@FakeBruceRauner - Instead of getting the vetting papers back from Ev, I got a summons, only to be ignored if I picked her #OfferBruceCouldNotRefuse
@FakeBruceRauner - Great, now State Farm is asking 10 times the amount to cover the campaign #LikeABadLawyerSeeYouInCourt
@FakeBruceRauner - I was told by my counsel that Ev is a great person, warm, friendly, and adds tons to our ticket to shake things up #ThereThatShouldStopEvFromSuing
@FakeBruceRauner - Slip and Sue, good one OW, but not as funny when you have to worry about your insurace premiums! #NicknamesHitHomeSometimes
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 5:22 pm:
@FakeSlipAndSue - This is so unfair, I am not like this #WhoGetsSuedFirst
@FakeSlipAndSue - Bruce wants me around, or trust me, Bruce wants me around! #OnTheTicketOrOnTheDocket
@FakeSlipAndSue - I can be the best LG possible, or I will sue the voters who are “forcing” me to be the No. 2 #VoteForMeAtYourOwnLegalPeril
@FakeSlipAndSue - I could have been Dan or Bill’s No. 2, but I chose Bruce #DanAndBillDodgeMajorHeadache
@FakeSlipAndSue - I am prepared to run Illnois if need be. Or, I can just try to settle out of court. #LitigationVersusGoverning
@FakeSlipAndSue - Why do I have 274 emails from everyone asking who was my attorney. My case was about the making a better Wheaton #UntilItWasUntilItWasnt
@FakeSlipAndSue - Personal Injury I know about, knowing exactly what corruption looks like, not so much #SawItTillIDidntSeeItOrWhatever
- one day AT A TIME - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 6:24 pm:
Crass politically based lawsuit and donation…Hope the donation effect is as negatively polled as it was received
/
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 6:41 pm:
@FakeSlipAndSue - Maybe I am more qualified to run for AG? #SueThemOnceShameOnMe
@FakeSlipAndSue - If things start going south in the campaign, don’t be surprised if a stage gets a lil slippery #DramaLikeLALaw
@FakeSlipAndSue - OW should call me Commander Galloway. However Galloway was for the People, I sue for the $$$ #WhenTheySayItsNotAboutTheMoneybit
@FakeSlipAndSue - Actually Bruce chose me because he figures as Gov, he will be in court - Alot! #UsingAllThreeBranchesUnderstandingNoneOfThem
@FakeBruceRauner - I can’t discuss Ev’s role, due to client-lawyer priveledge. Not me and Ev, my lawyer and Ev’s lawyer! #SignHereSignHereInitialHereAndHere
@FakeBruceRauner - Might as well run as a Democrat, we could get the Trial Lawyer’s endosrement easy after today.
@FakeBruceRauner -Now the choking chicken looks like a real good decision, doesn’t it? #CompareDopeyChickenToDopeyLawsuits
@FakeBruceRauner - Ev is prepared to be governor at a moments notice; see Quinn, see lawsuits, see court appearances #Allrise
- Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 7:10 pm:
Willy is en fuego today!
#shouldahiredus
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 7:12 pm:
@FakeSlipAndSue - My staff people know to get everyone’s inforamtion at events. Witnesses are sometimes difficult to track down. #AmbulanceChasingAsGladHanding
@FakeSlipAndFall - I will be suing the state of Illinois shortly. I sued Wheaton, I got on the Council, you get the idea #LuckBeALawsuitTonight
@FakeBruceRauner - Again, very excited to have Ev running with me. Acutially we keep Ev at a jog, have lawyers flank her, and she is not allowed to take two stairs at a time #NoNosOnTheTrial
@FakeBruceRauner - I am a friend of Jerry Reisndorf. He paid Jay Williams after the Motorcycle bit. Ev will have to sue me to get that kinda cash #GoBulls
@FakeBruceRauner - Ok, who had Millionaire Pension “robber baron” and Personal Injury defendant who is a Lawyer in the GOP Primary? #OddsOffTheCharts
@FakeSlipAndSue - Union Pacific called the campaign; who has 2 thumbs & isnt allowed to work train stations or be near train stations? #ThisPlantiffSlashLGCandidate
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 7:41 pm:
@FakeSlipAndSlide - My family is hoping to be invited to the Rauner Ranch in Montana. I will pack my slippery bottom shoes #OneFallEqualsOneRanch
@FakeBruceRauner - Ev keeps asking to go to the Ranch in Montana. I smell a lawsuit in the cooker #RanchHasNoVacancies
@FakeSlipAndSue - I will be the biggest cheerleader for a Gov. Rauner. Of course I will not be allowed to be on the pyramid or do any flips #EvenWaiversArentEnough
@FakeBruceRauner - Good news - Madison County endorsed Rauner/Sanguinetti. Bad news; Madison County Democrats #LawsuitSealedTheDeal
- Just The Way It Is One - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 8:12 pm:
Sheez…it sure is sickening alright but welcome to the “Sue-happy” World we live in…but, indeed, what it really necessary? AND, especially coming from HER, now a Candidate for a MAjor State-wide Office only a “heartbeat away” from becoming the LEADER of Illinois, it most definitely DOES make one wonder about the way this person lives her life and views Society–particularly when it comes to being MORE than willing to stick it to the VERY TAXPAYING CITIZENS she represents…!
- Just The Way It Is One - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 8:13 pm:
That was meant to read above: “…was it really necessary?”
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 8:24 pm:
@FakeBruceRauner - You are suppose to have a No. 2 who is your opposite match; a lawyer confused on seen corruption who was a plaintiff in a PI case against Public? Yep. Nailed it! #EvCompletesMe #HadMeAtPlaintiff
@FakeSlipAndSue - The CTA just called the Campaign; I guess “L”s and Buses are going to be all for Bruce too #NavyPierBoatsOffLimitsToo
@FakeSlipAndSue - I hate gov’t waste, especially large payouts to settle lawsuits and … oops, never mind #DoAsISayNotAsISue
@FakeBruceRauner - Wonder if I will need my Carhartt as I have to do all the train stations, “L” stops and buses. If I have to wear a wool cap I will scream #WhatDotheSimpleFolkWear
@FakeBruceRauner - Ok, truth be told, I am excited to see my first choo-choo, and this “L” I see people get on, it amazes me #HerbertWalkerCheckoutLine
@FakeBruceRauner - Ev, “Step on a Crack, …” NO! #NurseyRhymeHumorToLightenThings
@FakeSlipAndSue - I will show you “light”, you want to be light in the wallet with another crack about my lawsuit? #DontPushMeBruceNoSeriouslyDontPushIMayFall
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 8:53 pm:
- AA -, they should have just hired “AWillyWord Con$ulting” and been done with all this …funny stuff on your part as well, my good man. Keep the Firm running through petitions.
@FakeBruceRauner - AWillyWord, AWillyWord, that company keeps being brought up. If I was paying all my vendors, I would know them I guess #GotChangeForThousandBrucey?
- Juvenal - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 8:58 pm:
Rich and Willy:
Try not to choke on whatever you’re drinking while you read this one.
#3, with a Bullet, from the Bruce Rauner Jobs Plan:
Enact tort reform and limit lawsuit abuse.
Did I tell you so? I told you so.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 9:24 pm:
- Juvenal -,
Thanks for the warning, I am required to take my Plummer Meds before reading or seeing something beyond the realm of reality. Your “warning” good deed is appreciated.
Usually, thought, I just read Payton Prep Clouter’s stuff as fiction, and I feel great.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 9:41 pm:
So we know ‘Slip and Sue’ had taken the following entities to Court:
Wheaton (her home town), DuPage County, METRA, the Union Pacific Railroad, the Illinois Prairie Path Corporation, and the DuPage County Dept. of Transportation.
What is NOT known are the entites that did NOT make the final cut for ‘Slip and Sue’ Sanguinetti.
The following were rejected defendats to ‘Slip and Sue’s’ lawsuit;
- Acme shoe company
- Bedrock Quary, Mr. Slate, Foreman
- Wednesday, the day of the week
- RayBan sunglasses for the glare that distracted her
- Water, the natural element
- Ice, Water’s cold distant cousin
- Wind, the natural element
- Cracks, profesionally made
- Cracks, naturally made
- Cracks, undetermined origin
- All birds, distracting chirping birds specifically
- Life Savers, the candy, especially wintergreen, which distracted Ms. Sanguinetti searching for one in her pocket
- The following in no patricular order, but representing themselves as individuals and as a group: Chicago Sun Times, Chicago Tribune, PennySaver, NY Times, Daily Herald and any other magazine, newspaper, or periodical in the container that Ms. Sanguinetti happened to see moments before the incident.
Finally,
- Fate, specifically the Fickle finger of Same.
If you look at this in its complete form,… how anyone can say ‘Slip and Sue’ was frivilous?