Local Mom Files Lawsuits in Toddler's Death

Shane Siefert, 2, of Barrington Hills died in 2011 when a dresser fell on top of him.

A lawsuit has been filed regarding the death of a Barrington Hills 2-year-old who was killed when his dresser fell on top of him, the Daily Herald reports. Lisa Siefert filed a lawsuit against furniture manufacturer Gemma Juvenile, Inc. of Canada, FurnitureKidz Inc. and it’s former owners, Robert and Marcia Gilbreth of Inverness, the newspaper reports. Siefert’s 2-year-old son Shane died in 2011 when the dresser fell on top of him, according to Medill Reports. Siefert was able to get the furniture recalled, and has been pushing for the use of safety straps that attach furniture to the wall, according to Medill Reports.  Siefert is seeking to have expenses of her son’s funeral paid “and other aspects of the family’s loss” through damages in…

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

Dentist Faces Lawsuit for Elaborate Hoax

Dr. Sunil Sinha has filed the lawsuit against Dr. Anthony Frer in Cook County Circuit Court.

A dentist with a local connection is accused of a concocting an elaborate lie that caused a fellow oral surgeon to fear for his, and his family’s, safety, according to Crain’s Chicago. A lawsuit has been filed in Cook County by the oral surgeon, Dr. Sunil Sinha, a principal in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of Chicago P.C., against veteran oral surgeon Dr. Anthony Frer, an independent contractor with Sinha’s practice who also works part-time for McHenry Dental Specialists, according to Crain’s Chicago. McHenry Dental Specialists has an office in Lake in the Hills and McHenry. Frer is accused of making Sinha believe “scruffy...angry” thugs were looking for him, which led to Sinha pulling his children from school and hiring a security firm …

• Photos (1)

Arlington Heights Woman Battles MRSA Infection After Maggot Infestation

After dozens of maggots were removed from the ear of an Arlington Heights nursing home resident, the elderly woman is back in the hospital battling infections, the family's attorney said.

Three months after 57 maggots were removed from the ear of an Arlington Heights nursing home resident, 90-year-old Catherine McCann is once again back in the hospital, battling infections caused by the infestation, the family’s attorney said. “I hope she’s able to survive these infections,” attorney Henry Gruss said, “She’s a 90-year-old woman who suffers from dementia and now she has all these infections to overcome.” Suffering from severe Alzheimer’s disease, McCann lived at Lutheran Home for the Aged, 800 W. Oakton Street in Arlington Heights, for two years before the alleged infestation. Gruss, who filed the lawsuit against the Arlington Heights nursing home, said since the maggots were removed in mid-September, McCann has been in and …

•  4 Comments
• Photos (2)

District 300, Bus Company Aim to Have Suit Dismissed Over School Bus Attack

The lawsuit alleges students attacked a 6th grade girl while she was on a school bus.

Attorneys for District 300 and Durham School Service, a bus company, are trying to get a lawsuit dismissed that alleges a special needs student broke her leg after being attacked by students on a school bus in October 2010, according to the Daily Herald.  The mother of the special needs student filed the suit and is seeking $50,000 in damages from Durham and District 300, according to the Daily Herald.  Attorneys for District 300 and Durham allege the girl broke her leg after getting off the bus, according to the Daily Herald.  The Daily Herald has more on this story.

• Photos (1)

Family of Lake in the Hills Man Sue Over Deadly Auger Accident

The Daily Herald reports the lawsuit was filed Monday morning in Cook County Circuit Court.

The family of Timothy Pittas, a 26-year-old Lake in the Hills man killed on Dec. 12 near Streamwood when his clothes became caught in an auger, "is suing the machinery’s manufacturer, installer and retailer," according to the Daily Herald. The lawsuit was filed Monday morning in Cook County Circuit Court against Buyers Products Co., based in Ohio; Rugby Manufacturing Co., based in North Dakota; Rockenbach Chevrolet Sales Inc., based in Grayslake; and Scott Wezalis, who is "described in the suit as 'an employee or agent of Rockenbach,' " according to the Daily Herald.  The family alleges in the lawsuit that an emergency shut-off device or similar guard was needed on the auger and the auger should have had warnings on it explaining "it could…

Lawsuit Alleges Sharp Objects in Chips from LITH Costco

A woman filed a lawsuit in McHenry County Court Monday against Costco and Frito-Lay.

A woman has filed a a lawsuit in McHenry County Court alleging the potato chips she bought from the Costco in Lake in the Hills contained sharp metal objects. The woman filed the lawsuit Monday against Frito-Lay Inc., Costco Wholesale Corp. and Rolling Frito-Lay Sales LP for money damages over $50,000. According to Reuters, Zahra Kashani alleges she ate the Ruffle potato chips two years ago, became "acutely ill" and then needed surgery to remove "multiple pins and needles." For more on this story, visit the Reuters article on the Chicago Tribune.

• Photos (1)