At the end of August, Mary Nielsen secured a defense verdict on behalf of an optometry store in Lake County, Illinois. Plaintiff claimed the premises were unreasonably dangerous and that a hazard in the form of a fireplace plinth had been concealed by moveable furniture. He also claimed to have been distracted by the eyeglass displays and that he was invited and/or instructed by the store’s staff to walk between furniture, resulting in injury. Plaintiff suffered a laceration to the bone on his right shin. At the close of Plaintiff’s case, the Court granted a partial directed verdict on the claim of distraction. The Jury deliberated for less than an hour and unanimously found in favor of the optometry store on all remaining claims.

Nielsen, a partner in the firm’s DuPage County office, was assisted during the litigation by associate attorney Eleni Gyparakis. Nielsen focuses her practice on the defense of healthcare providers, including hospitals, physicians, nurses, and speech, occupational and physical therapists. Gyparakis focuses her practice on the defense of medical, dental, and long-term care providers.