135 S. LaSalle St., Ste. 2200 Chicago, IL 60603
3550 Hobson Rd., Ste. 403 Woodridge, IL 60517
312-578-9501 | www.shannonlawgroup.com MARCH 2020
OUR UPCOMING PUBLICATIONS
It is our distinct honor and privilege to represent our clients in court. However, we want to do more for you than just that. We want to provide resources to help you navigate the legal system, so I thought I would devote this month’s column to our new publications. As you may know, we have a team of attorneys who concentrate on handling trucking cases that have resulted in catastrophic injuries. Over the last decade, we’ve handled cases in the trial courts, but we have also set precedent in the appellate courts for transportation cases. Many times, innocent drivers are hit by semitrucks that carry the bare minimum of insurance. It is then the job of the innocent driver’s lawyer to find all entities responsible for the crash. It is vitally important for the lawyer to find
out which entities, if any, were actually controlling this driver during the trip.
for when punitive damages are appropriately applied.
In one of our appellate cases, Taluc v. C.H. Robinson, we set the precedent for holding a broker liable for the acts of its trucker. In this case, the jury found that the broker controlled the trucker and therefore should be liable for the acts of its agent. In another one of our appellate cases, Baumrucker v. Express Taxi Cab, our client was hit while on a crosswalk by a cab driver who had not been vetted and had a history of reckless driving. The jury found that the cab company had acted recklessly in hiring the driver and awarded punitive damages against the cab company. In this case, we set the precedent for holding transportation companies liable for reckless hiring of drivers and set some of the standards
Our terrific trial lawyer Pat Cummings thought it would be a good idea to write a book for our clients to address the issues that arise in trucking cases. His book, “How to Avoid a Trucking Nightmare: What You Need to Know After a Truck-Related Injury” will hit the presses in the coming months. I’ve read the manuscript, and it is very well done. Our second publication will address mesothelioma, the disease caused by asbestos exposure. When I first started as a lawyer in Chicago nearly 30 years ago, I represented an asbestos manufacturer and handled numerous mesothelioma cases. Many times, I took depositions of men from their bedside as they were dying from this horrific disease. Men are still being diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2020. We were recently retained by a man who was set to enjoy his retirement. We decided to write an informational pamphlet on the issue entitled “Meso Killers: A Saga of Corporate Greed, Lies, and the Painful Deaths of American Workers.” This publication will be available in the coming months, as well. If you would like a copy of either of these books, stay tuned to our website and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Email Brittany at bpeterson@shannonlawgroup.com if you would like to be put on the waitlist to receive a free print copy of “How to Avoid a Trucking Nightmare” or “Meso Killers” when they’re published. – Joe Shannon
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MEMORIES FROM MARQUETTE BASKETBALL AND GOOD PEOPLE
When you think about the month of March, March Madness probably crosses your mind pretty quickly. As a college basketball tournament, it offers
Wesley Matthews, and Jae Crowder. When Jon Svitak and I were juniors, we lived in Humphrey Hall on the same floor as the basketball team. My mom still considers Jimmy Butler to be among her favorite players after he told her she had “sweet kicks” on the Humphrey elevator. In terms of in-game experiences, I don’t think anything will top the old Bradley Center for No. 12 Marquette vs. No. 11 Georgetown my freshman year. The stadium was absolutely on fire the entire game — the loudest I ever heard it. Up by 3 points with less than three seconds to go, Marquette fouled a 3-point shooter. The Georgetown Hoya knocked down all three free throws with ice in his veins, and Marquette ended up losing in a heartbreaking overtime. While college basketball is what drew me to Marquette and what keeps me coming back to Milwaukee year after year, it is by no means the only reason I love Marquette today. For me, Marquette will always be about the relationships I made during the four years I was there and the friendships I’ve made with Marquette alumni since I left. It doesn’t hurt that I can also count
some of the most entertaining sports weekends of the year. When I was in high school, my friends and I would go straight from school to Buffalo Wild Wings on the first Friday of the tournament so we could watch every second of action. In some ways, March Madness and college basketball had a significant impact on my life. When I was looking at colleges, there were two main criteria: the quality of the school and the quality of their hoops team. Mind you, I wasn’t being recruited by any of these schools. I just knew that I wanted to have a horse in the race whenever March Madness rolled around. Because of Dwyane Wade and his Final Four run in 2003, I wound up going to Marquette University during the Tom Crean and Buzz Williams eras. During my four years at Marquette, we were spoiled with four very good basketball teams that yielded four tournament appearances and many NBA players, including Jimmy Butler,
my sister, Maureen, and my wife, Caitlin, among Marquette’s great alums. Marquette’s hoops are good, but the people are better. Ring out ahoya!
– Pat Cummings
HOW YOUR FAVORITE ANTACID MAY CAUSE CANCER ZANTAC RECALL:
For over two decades, Zantac has been America’s trusted choice for over-the-counter antacid. The active ingredient in Zantac is ranitidine. Ranitidine works by decreasing the amount of acid produced in the stomach. Like many Americans, you’ve likely reached for Zantac or its generic counterpart to help soothe acid reflux or indigestion. Millions of folks used it daily to treat more serious conditions, such as severe heartburn or Zollinger- Ellison syndrome.
is very toxic to the human body (especially the liver), and the evidence that it causes cancer is not disputed. NDMA has been recognized as a human carcinogen since the 1970s by the World Health Organization, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. People who took Zantac on a daily basis may have unknowingly ingested incredibly high levels of NDMA. If you took Zantac frequently, you may be at a significantly increased risk for many types of cancer. From past studies, we know that NDMA is linked to certain cancers, including liver cancer, stomach cancer, colorectal cancer, and intestinal cancer. NDMA ingestion from Zantac may cause all types of cancer. In the next few years, we expect to see thousands of Zantac lawsuits filed on behalf of victims and their families alleging that the NDMA-contaminated ranitidine caused their cancer. At Shannon Law Group, our team is currently investigating Zantac cancer lawsuits. If you or someone you love used Zantac frequently and was diagnosed with cancer, we encourage you to reach out to our team to explore your options. You can also contact us if you have any questions about the Zantac recall. We will continue to update you as we learn more.
In September 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety recall on Zantac and other generic ranitidine antacids. The FDA had tested Zantac’s main Ingredient ranitidine and discovered “unacceptable” amounts of a carcinogen called N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA).
NDMA is an unstable organic chemical that is created unintentionally as a byproduct of industrial processes. NDMA
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THE DANGERS OF E-SCOOTERS
You must be 18 years old and have a driver’s license to operate an e-scooter. The fine print also says that the e-scooter must be driven on the road, and the rider should wear a helmet. These companies provide little to no training on how to operate an e-scooter safely. While e-scooters are convenient, they’re also dangerous for riders. Consumer Reports discovered that eight people died and 1,500 people sustained injuries while using an e-scooter since fall 2017. During the first Chicago pilot program in 2019, roughly 200 people were injured, as well. On average, about 20 people are injured per 100,000 scooter trips taken, according to the Public Health and Transportation departments in Austin, Texas, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Factoring in that most e-scooter trips are of a very short duration, that’s a pretty high number. Almost half were severe injuries, such as head injuries, bone fractures and other serious and permanent injuries.
Have you been on a college campus lately? If so, you’ve no doubt encountered the latest craze in campus life: electric scooters, or e-scooters. E-scooters are small, stand-up scooters powered by an electric motor, and they’re probably coming to a town or city near you. In 2018, e-scooter rental companies like Lime and Bird had a total of 85,000 e-scooters for rent according to the National Association of City Transportation Officials. This is more than the number of bikes rented. In January, Chicago also greenlit a second pilot program for e-scooters that’s due to start in the spring. E-scooter companies like Lime and Bird have developed apps that allow users to rent with ease. A rider finds a scooter, opens the app on their phone, scans the code to unlock the scooter, and rides it. When done, they can simply leave the scooter wherever they like. The app also tells users where to find the nearest scooter when they want to ride, and the process repeats.
If you or someone you know was seriously injured while riding an e-scooter, we would be happy to meet with you to discuss legal options. You can call us anytime at 312-578-9501 or fill out a contact form at ShannonLawGroup.com.
– Jack Cannon
MARCH 2020 DATES OF CONSEQUENCE
EASY IRISH SODA BREAD • 1/2 cup margarine • 1 1/4 cups buttermilk, divided • 1 egg • 1/4 cup butter, melted Inspired by AllRecipes.com
Ingredients • 4 cups all-purpose flour • 4 tbsp white sugar • 1 tsp baking soda • 1 tbsp baking powder • 1/2 tsp salt
March 8 March 17 March 17 March 19 March 19 March 20 March 26 March 30
Daylight Saving Time St. Patrick’s Day NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Begins
First Day of Spring Feast of St. Joeseph SJA K of C March Madness Fish Fry White Sox Home Opener Chicago Cubs Home Opener
Directions 1. Heat oven to 375 F, and lightly grease a large baking sheet. 2. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and margarine. 3. Stir in 1 cup buttermilk and egg, and mix until dough comes together. 4. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface. Form dough into a round before placing it on baking sheet. 5. In a small bowl, combine melted butter and remaining 1/4 cup buttermilk. 6. Brush the raw loaf with this mixture and cut an “X” into the top. 7. Bake loaf for 45–50 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean after being inserted into center of loaf. You may need to continue brushing the loaf with the butter mixture while it bakes.
Every Saturday morning throughout the year, St. Joan of Arc Men’s Group meets from 7–8 a.m. in the St. Joan of Arc Parish Center. Please join us.
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Phone: 312-578-9501 www.shannonlawgroup.com
135 S. LASALLE ST., STE. 2200 CHICAGO, IL 60603
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Our Upcoming Publications
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Memories From Marquette
Zantac Recall
The Dangers of E-Scooters
Easy Irish Soda Bread
SUDOKU
OUR MARCH MADNESS BRACKET CHALLENGE IS BACK! Whether your team is playing or not, there’s no denying that the NCAA Tournament is one of the greatest events of the sporting year. Don’t miss out on the fun this year — join Shannon Law Group’s annual Bracket Challenge today! It’s free to enter, and there are cash payouts for the top four performers. Check your email or our Facebook page for the link. You can also email Brittany at bpeterson@shannonlawgroup.com, and she will send you the link directly. Make sure to get your picks in by tipoff of the first game on Thursday, March 19!
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