Press Release Summaries

• Yao Dinizulu has been named one of "40 Illinois Attorneys Under 40 to Watch"
   
• "Mother Of Four Suffers And Dies In Hospital Due To Hospital Staff And Physicians’ Failure To Perform Life-Saving Surgery."
  
  
• "30 Year Old Mother Dies Due To Respiratory Distress Caused By Overmedication."
  
• "Hispanic Man Arrested And Detained For A Month Pursuant To A Warrant That Didn’t Match His Description Because Of A Similar Name."
  
  
• "Children Of Deceased Father File A Lawsuit Against Nursing Home Claiming Neglect Led To Bed Sores And Death."
  
  
• "Lady Burned Badly In Explosion Causing Second And Third Degree Burns To Her Body"
  
  
• "Family Of Deceased Wife And Mother File Suit Against Hospital And Doctors Alleging That Negligent Treatment Caused Death."
  
  
• "Attempted First Degree Murder Charges Dropped After Defense Prevails On Motion To Suppress Evidence."
  

• "Family files wrongful death suit over landlord giving the tenant's key to an insane former prison inmate. "
  
  
• "Families sues the Chicago Park District for acts of pedophile"
  
  
• "Pastor Sues Catholic Church for Fraud"
  
  
• "Women severely beaten sues for police brutality"
  
  
• "Hospitals Failure To Diagnose Fracture, Results in Chronic Back Pain and Impotence"
  
  
• "Payless ShoeSource Passes Over the Best Fit"
  
  
• "Hardees Store Unsafe?"
  
  
• "Catholic Charities Orders Strip Search"
  
  
• "Boy Seriously Injured At Meeks' Church"
  
  
• "Landlord's Negligence Causes Electrocution"
  
  
• "CPS Staffer Breaks Boys Leg"
  
  
• "Assistant Superintendent Sues School System"

"Mother Of Four Suffers And Dies In Hospital Due To Hospital Staff And Physicians’ Failure To Perform Life-Saving Surgery."

On Feb. 17, HARRIS, MITCHELL & DINIZULU, LLC, filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against ADVOCATE CHRIST HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL CENTER, DR. MICHAEL HAWTHORNE, DR. STEPHEN ANNEKEN, DR. WARREN ROBINSON, DR. LAURA PITTMAN and DR. MARK SIERRA on behalf of the Estate Of Sheila Jones and her family.   The complaint alleges that ADVOCATE CHRIST HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL CENTER and the treating physicians failed to provide appropriate care when she came to their emergency room obviously suffering from a life-threatening and extremely painful heart condition.

MARSHAY JOHNSON, Ms. Jones’ daughter, said “our family is troubled that the doctors just didn’t respond to our mother’s cries for help. My mother went to that hospital because she was in pain and because she thought they were familiar with her condition. They just let her die. We just want to know why they ignored my mother for two days.”

“It appears clear from our investigation and review of the relevant medical records that the lack of care provided to Ms. Jones was appalling. Both the hospital and the individual physicians dropped the ball with respect to Ms. Jones’ treatment,” said Jesse Harris, a partner at Harris, Mitchell & Dinizulu, LLC. Mr. Harris continued, " What we learned from our investigation is that Sheila Jones arrived at Advocate Christ Medical Center with classic symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of dissecting aortic aneurysm with impending rupture. Radiology test results confirmed the presence of the aneurysm. The tests did not rule out a tear in the lining of that major blood vessel. Given the facts as known to the physicians and the hospital within a few hours of her arrival, Ms. Jones should have been taken for surgery to repair the blood vessel. Instead, the hospital and physicians failed to even recommend surgery. Ms. Jones died in the hospital after nearly two days of persistent crescendo pain and suffering.

ATTORNEY JESSE HARRIS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT AFTER 5:00 P.M. TUESEDAY, February 21, 2006, at the office of HARRIS, MITCHELL & DINIZULU, LLC, 205 W. RANDOLPH STREET, SUITE 410, CHICAGO, IL - (312-236-2900). Harris, Mitchell & Dinizulu, LLC is an Illinois firm concentrating in transportation injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death, product liability and criminal defense litigation.

"30 Year Old Mother Dies Due To Respiratory Distress Caused By Overmedication."

On Feb. 15, HARRIS, MITCHELL & DINIZULU, LLC, filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against INGALLS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, DR. IDA WASHINGTON, DR. MAURICIO ORBEGOZO, DR. ANTONELA SVETIC AND CONSUMERS PHARMACY, INC. on behalf of the ESTATE OF FELICIA WIDE and her family.   The complaint alleges that the physicians who were all affiliated with INGALLS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL were fully aware and approved what the other physicians were prescribing; overmedicated the decedent Felicia Wide. Furthermore, the complaint alleges the pharmacy where most of the prescriptions were filled failed to keep adequate records on the medication and failed to counsel or warn Felicia about the risks and dangers associated with taking said medication together and in light of the dosages.

Vivian Thomas, Ms. Wide’s mother, said “you are never prepared to have to bury a child and you are certainly not prepared to bury a child when they are as young and vibrant as my daughter. She was my best friend.”
“This is becoming a continuing problem in the medical community. To often our medical providers are not looking at their patients as a whole person, they fail to consider all of the patients needs and that is the beginning of bad medicine,” said Yao Dinizulu, a partner at Harris, Mitchell & Dinizulu, LLC. Mr. Dinizulu continued, "She was prescribed, hydrocodone, carisoprodol, duragesic patch, and belladonna/phenoba, just to name a few of her medications at the highest recommended daily dosages and sometimes exceeding those recommendations. Its one thing to exceed those recommendations while a patient was inpatient, but this patient was receiving out patient care. At one point it was recommended that the decedent take 60 tablets of Hydrocone over a six-day period and six days later the same doctor prescribed her 30 tablets over a two-day period. The amount of prescribed medication she received is unconscionable.”

ATTORNEY YAO DINIZULU WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT AFTER 5:00 at the office of HARRIS, MITCHELL & DINIZULU, LLC, 205 W. RANDOLPH STREET, SUITE 410, CHICAGO, IL - (312-236-2900). Harris, Mitchell & Dinizulu, LLC is an Illinois firm concentrating in transportation injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death, product liability and criminal defense litigation.  

"Hispanic Man Arrested And Detained For A Month Pursuant To A Warrant That Didn’t Match His Description Because Of A Similar Name."

HARRIS, MITCHELL & DINIZULU, LLC filed today (FRIDAY Nov 18TH ) a lawsuit claiming Adan Martinez was falsely arrested and falsely imprisoned.

“Texas’ Liberty County Sheriff’s Office issued a warrant for the arrest of ‘Abel Vasquez Martinez’ who was wanted for ‘AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ASSAULT OF A CHILD’. In the execution of this warrant ‘Adan Garcia Martinez’ was arrested and detained for extradition for almost a month by the Chicago Police Department. The warrant issued by Texas’ Liberty County Sheriff’s Office included a photograph and a description that indicated that Abel had an amputated finger on one hand” said Yao Dinizulu, a partner at Harris, Mitchell & Dinizulu, LLC "What took place hear is that no one checked the warrant against the identification that Adan Martinez presented. Furthermore they never reviewed the photograph that Texas’ Liberty County Sheriff’s Office provided nor did they cross-reference the fingerprints of Adan Martinez against those on the warrant for Abel Martinez. Our police have a difficult job; however, when you deprive a person of their liberty we expect that you get it right. Incompetence can not be tolerated when it comes to our freedom."

ATTORNEY YAO DINIZULU WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT AFTER 5:00 AT HARRIS, MITCHELL & DINIZULU, LLC AT 205 W. RANDOLPH SUITE 410 CHICAGO, IL 60606 (312-236-2900). Harris, Mitchell & Dinizulu, LLC is a Illinois personal injury firm concentrating in transportation, aviation, medical malpractice, product liability and wrongful death litigation.

"Children Of Deceased Father File A Lawsuit Against Nursing Home Claiming Neglect Led To Bed Sores And Death."

HARRIS, MITCHELL & DINIZULU, LLC, (FRIDAY JUNE 25th) filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the Renaissance at 87th on behalf of the Estate of Sanderson Rayford and his family.   The complaint alleged that Renaissance at 87th a subsidiary of a Nursing Home conglomerate was negligent in that its employees failed to properly monitor and treat Mr. Rayford.   Mr. Rayford had been placed in long-term care because the family was not skilled in dealing with the complex needs of an ailing loved one.

Louise Rayford, the daughter of Mr. Rayford said that “we placed him in that facility because they were professionals and we thought they would take care of him…instead despite our families’ daily visits, I learned that he was being neglected in that he developed bed sores and nobody knew anything about it until I requested he be transferred to a hospital for an evaluation because he looked in pain.”

With our growing Nursing Home population, the aging of the baby boomers, more and more of our loved ones are admitted into these long-term care facilities. As such, we must become more vigilant in bringing to light the neglect of Nursing Homes to increase the quality of care for the elderly - those who can’t speak. Under Illinois law “neglect” means a failure in a facility to provide adequate medical or personal care or maintenance, which failure results in physical or mental injury to a resident. In this case the neglect was that the Nursing Home essentially starved Mr. Rayford to death intensifying the severity of these bed sores and creating a health status that was so poor that he died.” said Yao Dinizulu, a partner at Harris, Mitchell & Dinizulu, LLC . " What we have learned is that the registered dietician did an evaluation of Mr. Rayford and identified the appropriate calorie intake Mr. Rayford should have received from his G-Tube. But the Nursing Home and its staff just ignored it for over a month. This was just too much for Mr. Rayford to overcome.

ATTORNEY YAO DINIZULU WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT AFTER 5:00 P.M. TUESEDAY AT HARRIS, MITCHELL & DINIZULU, LLC AT 205 W. RANDOLPH SUITE 410 CHICAGO, IL 60606 (312-236-2900). Harris, Mitchell & Dinizulu, LLC is a Illinois personal injury firm concentrating in transportation, aviation, medical malpractice, product liability and wrongful death litigation.  

"Lady Burned Badly In Explosion Causing Second And Third Degree Burns To Her Body"

HARRIS, MITCHELL & DINIZULU, LLC is filing today (Monday, OCT 31st ) a negligence lawsuit against the CHICAGO HOUSING AUTHORITY & EAST LAKE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY on behalf PATRICIA WILSON & LAVELL DORRIS. On October 17, 2005 an explosion shook the entire block 13241-63 S. Ellis leaving many tenants scared and homeless.

“It appears that the explosion was precipitated by a leak that went unchecked after maintenance employees had just completed repairs in the joint crawlspace of the block.” “Both Ms. Wilson and her guest Mr. Dorris were taken by ambulance to the Hospital where both individuals were treated for burns to their bodies.” said Yao Dinizulu, a partner at Harris, Mitchell & Dinizulu, LLC, "What is really troubling is that during the weeks just prior to this incident there had been several instances where gas leaks had been reported and supposedly addressed at the premises. I have dealt with this development before based on their care to its residents; it is time that the CHICAGO HOUSING AUTHORITY treats the families of this development with the dignity that they deserve. We will get to the bottom of this. "

ATTORNEY YAO DINIZULU WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT AFTER 5:00 P.M. MONDAY AT HARRIS, MITCHELL & DINIZULU, LLC AT 205 W. RANDOLPH SUITE 410 CHICAGO, IL 60606 (312-236-2900). Harris, Mitchell & Dinizulu, LLC is a Illinois personal injury firm concentrating in transportation, aviation, medical malpractice, product liability and wrongful death litigation. 

"ATTEMPTED FIRST DEGREE MURDER CHARGES DROPPED AFTER DEFENSE PREVAILS ON MOTION TO SUPPRESS EVIDENCE."  

On June 26, 2003, Attorney Jesse V. Harris, a member of the Chicago-based law firm   of Harris, Mitchell & Dinizulu, LLC, filed a motion to suppress evidence and statements on behalf of a Kentucky-man accused of the Attempted First Degree Murder of a local man who was shot in the head in Kankakee County, Illinois.   If convicted of this offense, the accused could have been handed a sentence of life imprisonment.   In its motion the defense alleged that the prosecution should be barred from using videotaped interrogations of the defendant as well as state police video taken at the scene of the arrest.   In addition, the defense asked the judge to bar from trial the officers' recollection of certain statements allegedly made by the defendant.  

During the hearing on the motion the defense attorney cross-examined the arresting officers.   Attorney Harris repeatedly pointed to what he deemed as "violations of his client's constitutional rights" in the gathering of evidence.   After researching the issues pointed out at the hearing, the judge granted the defense's motion and suppressed the videotaped statements as well as the officers' interpretation of unrecorded statements allegedly made by the accused.   Subsequently, the Attempted First Degree Murder charges were dropped. 

"FAMILY OF DECEASED WIFE AND MOTHER FILE SUIT AGAINST HOSPITAL AND DOCTORS ALLEGING THAT NEGLIGENT TREATMENT CAUSED DEATH."

On April 15 th, HARRIS, MITCHELL & DINIZULU, LLC, filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against Northwest Community Hospital and one of its associated physicians on behalf of the Estate Of Frankie L. Green and her family.   The complaint alleged that Northwest Community Hospital's 24-Hour Emergency Treatment Center was negligent in that its employees failed to properly monitor and treat Mrs. Green's astronomically high blood pressure when she presented there at some time in the early morning hours of November 17, 2003.   The allegations arise against the physician in that he failed to treat her properly and ordered her transfer away from the facility when she returned later the same morning experiencing an emergency medical condition.

Mrs. Green had been a grammar school teacher in the Chicago Public Schools for over twenty-five years.   She had been married for over forty years and had 3 children and a number of grandchildren.

"We all must be concerned when a facility that indicates an ability to provide emergency medical services renders such service in a manner that leads to the patient's death.   We believe that Mrs. Green would be alive today but for the substandard treatment she received at that Schaumburg healthcare facility," said Jesse V. Harris, the Green family attorney and member of the firm Harris, Mitchell & Dinizulu, LLC. "When you tell people that you can handle a medical emergency, and you know that a person has come to you with a medical emergency, then the facility and the physician must comply with reasonable standards to ensure that the patient receives at least competent emergency medical treatment.   We do not believe that Mrs. Green received competent medical treatment. The action of the facility and the physician was negligent.   Unfortunately, in this case, those negligent actions resulted in the death of a person who did not have to die."

The lawsuit, filed in Cook County Circuit Court, alleges that Northwest Community Hospital's Schaumburg Emergency Treatment Center was negligent in failing to treat Mrs. Green's high blood pressure during her first visit there.   Also, the complaint alleges that the physicians failed to establish an airway when he knew that Mrs. Green returned to the facility the same day complaining of difficulty breathing, talking or swallowing.
 
Harris, Mitchell & Dinizulu, LLC is a Illinois personal injury firm concentrating in transportation, aviation, medical malpractice, product liability and wrongful death litigation.

"Family files wrongful death suit over mistaken key"

HARRIS, MITCHELL & DINIZULU, LLC is filing today (Tuesday, Mar. 13) a wrongful-death lawsuit against the KALEIDOSCOPE and BERLINE STOKES on behalf of a TALISA VIVIAN DAVENPORT’s family. BERLINE STOKES allegedly stabbed Ms. DAVENPORT to death after receiving TALISA DAVENPORT’s keys from KALEIDOSCOPE, INC. staffers.

Talisa, was working on receiving her GED and was accepted at Olive Harvey College to obtain Certification as a CNA. Talisa was also employed as a Security Guard at McCormick Place.

"We are concerned that a organization like Kaleidoscope would carelessly and recklessly provide keys to the home of one of it clients to another client; whom Kaleidoscope knew had a history of violence towards that individual" said Yao Dinizulu, a partner at Harris, Mitchell & Dinizulu, LLC . "When you entrust the keys of your residence to a caretaker or custodian you expect that they will not turn those keys over to someone who has shown violence against you in the past and you certainly don’t turn them over to someone who has just left a penal institution based on your actions to have them arrested. Kaleidoscope’s actions here were grossly negligent and inexcusable."

The lawsuit, filed in Cook County Circuit Court, alleges that Kaleidoscope was negligent in providing TALISA DAVENPORT’s keys to BERLINE STOKES and not doing enough to remove TALISA from this volatile situation.

THE DAVENPORT FAMILY AND ATTORNEY YAO DINIZULU WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT AFTER 3:00 P.M. TUESDAY AT HARRIS, MITCHELL & DINIZULU, LLC AT 205 W. RANDOLPH SUITE 410 CHICAGO, IL 60606 (312-236-2900).

Harris, Mitchell & Dinizulu, LLC is a Illinois personal injury firm concentrating in transportation, aviation, medical malpractice, product liability and wrongful death litigation.

"Families sue the Chicago Park District for acts of pedophile "

HARRIS, MITCHELL & DINIZULU, LLC is filing today (Tuesday, MAY 18TH ) a negligence lawsuit against the CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT and JASON ATKINS on behalf of two families. The CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT hired JASON ATKINS a convicted pedophile, although the CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT had been informed of JASON ATKINS’ inappropriate sexual conduct with a minor child.

“Despite the prevalence of pedophiles seeking out employment where young children congregate, the CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT had not put in place any safeguards to train their staff to identify and deal with the constant threat of pedophiles…this type of conduct by our social service agencies is reckless and intolerable.” said Yao Dinizulu, a partner at Harris, Mitchell & Dinizulu, LLC . "What is really troubling is that prior to the hire of the Defendant JASON ATKINS, the CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT had been warned about JASON ATKINS sexually propositioning another young boy, but the CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT failed to report the incident to the Department of Children and Family Services in violation of state law. Furthermore instead of watching the Defendant more closely in his lesser employment role they gave JASON ATKINS increased responsibility and more unfettered access to young boys." Harris, Mitchell & Dinizulu, LLC is calling upon the community to share their accounts on what happened considering some ten to fourteen minors were assaulted at the Rainbow Beach Facility. Yao Dinizulu stated, “While many of the facts are known we encourage more people to come forward to shed light on how the CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT could ignore JASON ATKINS’S perverse conduct.”

ATTORNEY YAO DINIZULU WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT AFTER 5:00 P.M. TUESEDAY AT HARRIS, MITCHELL & DINIZULU, LLC AT 205 W. RANDOLPH SUITE 410 CHICAGO, IL 60606 (312-236-2900). Harris, Mitchell & Dinizulu, LLC is a Illinois personal injury firm concentrating in transportation, aviation, medical malpractice, product liability and wrongful death litigation.

"Pastor Sues Catholic Church for Fraud"

HARRIS, MITCHELL & DINIZULU, LLC has filed suit today Tuesday August 26, 2003, against the Catholic Bishop of Chicago a part of the Catholic Church and Staubach Midwest, LLC a Real Estate Sales company accusing them of fraud, breach of contract and requesting specific performance on behalf of the International Apostolic Faith Temple (“IAFT”).

The Complaint alleges that after conducting a bidding process and after IAFT appeared to have been the only party bidding for the properties collectively called St. Laurence located at 7140 South Dorchester, IAFT was informed that they would be allowed to purchase the properties if they met certain conditions defined by the Catholic Church. After meeting all of the conditions of the agreement the Catholic Church refused to sale the property after the appraisal determined the property to far an exceed the value of the agreement. Bishop Theodore Jackson was told that the Catholic Church was not impressed with his “character” and that his church would not be allowed to buy the properties although they may be allowed to rent the properties from the newly surfaced buyer. The Complaint also accuses the Catholic Bishop of Chicago and Staubach Midwest, LLC of violating the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act and the Real Estate Licensing Act of 2000.

"It is very disappointing to learn that the Catholic Bishop of Chicago or anyone working on its behalf would commit such acts,” said Yao Dinizulu, a partner at Harris, Mitchell & Dinizulu, LLC. Although the Complaint does not allege discrimination, Bishop Jackson of IAFT believes that “the Defendants actions were also motivated by racial discrimination.”

BISHOP JACKSON AND ATTORNEY YAO DINIZULU WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT AFTER 7:00 P.M. TUESDAY AT HARRIS, MITCHELL & DINIZULU, LLC AT 205 W. RANDOLPH SUITE 410 CHICAGO, IL 60606 (312-236-2900).

Harris, Mitchell & Dinizulu, LLC is a Illinois personal injury firm concentrating in transportation, aviation, medical malpractice, product liability and wrongful death litigation.

"Women severely beaten sues for police brutality"

HARRIS, MITCHELL & DINIZULU, LLC is filing today (May 16, 2002) a lawsuit against the City of Chicago on behalf of Keeosha Rocquemore. Keeosha is an eighteen-year old working two jobs to sustain herself. On Sunday May 5, 2002, Keeosha was violently attacked and beaten-up by at least seven members of the Chicago Police Department after she requested access to her sister’s apartment so that she may get ready for work. After the gang-like beating of Keeosha one officer was heard congratulating himself for a beating well done when he exclaimed “I F----ed her up” “As a result of the attack, Keeosha has suffered a broken arm and several bruises to the body and face.

"Our community recognizes the utility of a police force, but that does not come with the assent to police brutality. The cowardly acts of these officers are unwarranted and unjustifiable.”, said Yao Dinizulu, a partner at Harris, Mitchell & Dinizulu, LLC. “The city’s leadership should not allow for these types of rogue officers to patrol our cities for it systematically undermines the trust of not only its victims but a nation of minorities whom all to often have seen the evils of our police force. These acts of reckless brutality must be brought to light with vengeance at all times to rid our police force of the viciousness and disrespect to our communities.”

The lawsuit, filed in Cook County Circuit Court, alleges that the City of Chicago Police Department and its officers were guilty of willful and wanton misconduct in the violation of Keeosha Rocquemore’s Civil Rights.

KEEOSHA ROCQUEMORE AND ATTORNEY YAO DINIZULU WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT AFTER 3:00 P.M. May 16, 2002 AT HARRIS, MITCHELL & DINIZULU, LLC AT 205 W. RANDOLPH SUITE 410 CHICAGO, IL 60606 (312)236-2900.

Harris, Mitchell & Dinizulu, LLC is a Illinois personal injury firm concentrating in transportation, aviation, medical malpractice, product liability and wrongful death litigation.