Verdict in medical negligence case – October 2021
On October 27, 2021, a Sangamon County, Illinois (Springfield) jury awarded the plaintiff, CP, a verdict for $4,235,854.00, against the defendants, Dr. Glennon Paul and Central Illinois Allergy and Respiratory Services, LLLC. The plaintiff was represented by Henry Phillip Gruss and Gena Gruss Romagnoli of the law firm of Henry Phillip Gruss, Ltd. The case involved medical negligence by the defendants, Dr. Paul, and his medical practice, Central Illinois Allergy, in the medical care and treatment they provided to Mrs. Phillips’ daughter, J.P.
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New Address – March 22, 2021
We moved! This is our address as of March 21, 2021:
Henry Phillip Gruss, Ltd.
100 Higgins Road
Suite 207
Park Ridge, IL 60068
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Chapter contributed to book – May 2, 2018
Henry Phillip Gruss and his wife Valerie Gruss co-authored Chapter 15: Malingering, Noncompliance and Secondary Gain, in the book, Neurological Malingering, by Alan R. Hirsch, MD, published by CRC Press.
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Verdict in premises liability case – January 2018
In January 2018, a Cook County jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, Helen Losacco, and against the defendant, Nelson Funeral Home, for a gross amount of $199,000 in a premises liability case. Henry Phillip Gruss of Henry Phillip Gruss, Ltd. represented Ms. Losacco, who was age 83 at the time of her fall which occurred as she was exiting the Nelson Funeral Home in Park Ridge, Illinois.”
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“Jury awards $3.2m for brain injury – Article in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin – October 27, 2016
On October 27, 2016 the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin reported that on October 20, 2016 a “Sangamon County jury awarded $3.2 million to the family of a boy who suffered a brain injury during a period of delayed CPR after his appendix was removed.”
Plaintiff Jolen Vincent sued two doctors at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield for medical negligence, “alleging the doctors delayed diagnosing her son Trevor’s appendicitis and failed to take reasonable steps to prevent his post-operative cardiac arrest in February 2009.”
Henry Phillip Gruss, owner of Henry Phillip Gruss Ltd. represented Mrs. Vincent. He explained that the two parties attempted two mediations, but were unable to reach agreement before the case went to court
After a three-week trial, the jury “awarded Vincent $400,000 for the disfigurement resulting from Trevor’s injury, $750,000 for his past and future disability, $500,000 for his past and future pain and suffering, $1,007,205 for past medical expenses, $550,000 for future medical expenses and $21,650 for funds Vincent spent acquiring medical equipment and making home accommodations for her son.”
Attorney Gruss said, “We had a difficult fight every step of the way because there was no settlement offer. But with our hard work and our preparation, we ended up with a verdict on behalf of Trevor which we hope will take care of him for the rest of his life.”
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Gena Romagnoli designated an “Emerging Lawyer” of Illinois – July 28, 2015
In late July 2015 Gena Romagnoli was designated an “Emerging Lawyer” of Illinois by Leading Lawyers. Emerging Lawyers are made up of the top two percent of lawyers who are 40 years old or younger or practicing law 10 years or less and have proven themselves professional, ethical and experienced at an early point in their legal career.
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“Lutheran Home ordered to pay family of woman found with earful of maggots” – Article in the Daily Herald – May 12, 2015
On May 12, 2015 the Daily Herald reported that “(t)he Lutheran Home in Arlington Heights has been ordered to pay $250,000 to the family of a woman who was found to have 57 maggots crawling in her ear in 2012.”
“The family’s attorney, Henry Gruss, said after the maggots were removed, McCann suffered from other health issues, stopped eating and was constantly humming. ‘Justice was served,’ he said.
Gruss’s legal team argued that the bugs found their way into McCann’s ear due to an untreated infection. If the nursing home staff had been checking McCann, who was prone to ear infections, and giving her ear drops multiple times a day as they were supposed to, this never would have happened, the lawyers said.”
To read the article, please click here.
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“Judge Orders Nursing Home To Pay Family Of Patient Who Had 57 Maggots Removed From Her Ear” – Article in CBS Local – May 5, 2015
On May 5, 2015 CBS Local reported that “the family of a nursing home patient who was so neglected maggots hatched in her ear has been awarded $250,000 in damages.”
To read the article, please click here.
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Verdict in favor of John McCann, Special Administrator of the Estate of Catherine McCann – May 4, 2015
On May 4, 2015, Henry Phillip Gruss and Kristin M. Gruss received a verdict in favor of their client, John McCann, as Special Administrator of the Estate of Catherine McCann, deceased, and against the defendant, Lutheran Home for the Aged, Inc. The case alleged that Catherine McCann, who had Alzheimer’s disease and was a full time resident of Lutheran Home for the Aged, experienced an undiagnosed and untreated ear infection that led to a maggot infestation in her left ear. The maggot infestation was not discovered for several days. Catherine was transferred to a hospital, then to a new nursing home, where she demonstrated severe behavioral changes, including lack of appetite and refusal to eat. She died four months after this incident. Plaintiffs alleged a violation of the Nursing Home Care Act as well as Wrongful Death, and prevailed on both counts.”
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Sangamon County jury returns a verdict of $433397.79 on behalf of the plaintiff, Dorothy Snow, as special administrator of the Estate of William Snow, Deceased – September 5, 2014
On Friday, September 5, 2014 a Sangamon County jury returned a verdict of $433,397.79 on behalf of the plaintiff, Dorothy Snow as special administrator of the Estate of William Snow, Deceased, and against defendant SIU. The case was tried from September 2, 2014 until September 5, 2014. The trial judge was Judge John Schmidt of the Circuit Court of Sangamon County.
The plaintiff was represented by father/daughter trial lawyers, Henry Phillip Gruss and Gena Gruss Romagnoli of the Chicago firm of Henry Phillip Gruss, Ltd. The defendants were represented by Adrian Harless of Heyl Royster.
The case concerned a massive overdose of chemotherapy drug 5FU, delivered in one hour rather than over four days. The plaintiff, William Snow, developed multiple side effects including neutropenia, septicemia, diarrhea, vomiting and weight loss due to the overwhelming side effects. Mr. Snow was hospitalized for three weeks, admitted to a nursing home for two months and required home health care nursing thereafter. Mr. Snow died on February 8, 2012, 15 months after the overdose from a re-occurrence of cancer. Plaintiff alleged and proved the failure to provide chemotherapy according to the protocol contributed to cause his death.
This was the first joint trial of attorneys Henry Phillip Gruss and Gena Gruss Romagnoli in Sangamon County. Mr. Gruss explained, “the Snow family is a wonderful close-knit family… they spoke eloquently on behalf of their late husband and father. Their loss cannot be measured in dollars and cents. Hopefully, this will provide some closure.”
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Nursing Home Patient Battles MRSA Infection after Maggot Infestation – Article in the Palatine Patch – December 12, 2012
On December 12, 2012 the Palatine Patch reporting that Catherine McCann, the 90-year old patient who three months ago suffered maggot infestation in her ear while at Lutheran Home for the Aged in Arlington Heights, IL, is now back in the hospital battling MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), a bacterium that causes infections in different parts of the body.
“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.”
According to the article, “McCann’s family is suing the Arlington Heights nursing home, Lutheran Home for the Aged, seeking $50,000 for emotional distress and negligence. Gruss said that’s the amount the family is seeking in non-economic damages, but the full amount has yet to be determined. ‘She’s still incurring medical expenses. So the investigation continues as to what her medical expenses will be.’”
To read the article, please click here.
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Family sues after Arlington Hts. woman infested by maggots at nursing home – Article in the Daily Herald – December 5, 2012
On December 5, 2012 the Daily Herald published an article about the law suit filed by a family of a 92-year old patient against Lutheran Home for the Aged in Arlington Heights.
The lawsuit seeks damages exceeding $50,000 for emotional distress and negligence.
“They owe the patient the highest duty of care to prevent this from happening, to keep the place sanitary and to monitor her care,” said attorney Henry P. Gruss. “It was disgusting; her daughter still has nightmares about maggots crawling out of her mother’s ear.”
To read the article, please click here.
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Henry Gruss Ltd. presents new partners – December 4, 2012
Henry Phillip Gruss Ltd. hosted a New Partners / Holiday Party on Tuesday, December 4, 2012 to celebrate Gena Gruss Romagnoli and Kristin M. Gruss becoming partners with the firm.
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msn invites readers to comment on McCann case – December 4, 2012
On December 4, 2012 msn published a story about the maggot infestation in the ear of a 92-year old patient at the Lutheran Home for the Aged in Arlington Heights, IL.
Below the article, msn invites readers to comment on the case. As of December 5, 2012 readers posted 687 comments.
Please visit the msn website to read the article and the comments.
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Henry Phillip Gruss interviewed on CBS Chicago regarding lawsuit filed against nursing home – November 29, 2012
On November 29, 2012 investigative journalist Pam Zekman, CBS Chicago (Channel 2), broadcast a program about a disturbing situation at the Lutheran Home for the Aged in Arlington Heights, IL.
“In this case, they allowed patient Catherine McCann to have a fly get into her ear canal, lay eggs and hatch 57 maggots,” said attorney Henry Phillip Gruss. Before surgery to remove the maggots, doctors at Northwest Community Hospital made a videotape to document the infestation.
Henry Phillip Gruss filed a lawsuit against Lutheran Home for the Aged on behalf of Mrs. McCann’s family. The family is suing the facility for emotional distress and negligence.
To read and watch the full story, please visit the CBS Chicago website.
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Law firm a family affair – Article in the Daily Herald – November 5, 2012
On November 5, 2012 the Daily Herald published an article about the law firm Henry Phillip Gruss Ltd. and its three attorneys: Henry Phillip Gruss, daughter-in-law Kristin Gruss and daughter Gena Gruss Romagnoli.
To read the article, please click here.
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Park Ridge Family of Lawyers, Dedicated to Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice – Article in the Daily Herald – November 2, 2012
On November 2, 2012 the Daily Herald published an in-depth article about the law firm Henry Phillip Gruss Ltd. The article profiles each of the firm’s three attorneys: Henry Phillip Gruss, daughter-in-law Kristin Gruss and daughter Gena Gruss Romagnoli.
To read the article, please click here.
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Society of Women in Law Mentor Program and Connektions Program at Chicago-Kent College of Law – October 2012
In autumn 2012, Gena Romagnoli is participating in the “Society of Women in Law” Mentor Program at Chicago-Kent College of Law, her alma mater. She will be serving as a mentor to a current second year law student who is interested in becoming a plaintiff’s trial lawyer in personal injury law.
Ms. Romagnoli also recently participated in the Alumni-Student Connektions program at Chicago-Kent College of Law, volunteering to conduct mock interviews with current second and third year law students who are in the process of looking for employment following graduation.
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Henry Phillip Gruss Ltd. Launches Website – October 2, 2012
On October 2, 2012 the law firm Henry Phillip Gruss Ltd. launched its website.
The website presents the firm and its three attorneys: Henry Gruss, daughter-in-law Kristin Gruss and daughter Gena Gruss Romagnoli.
According to Henry Phillip Gruss, “We are excited about the launch of our website. We hope that it makes us even more accessible to our current and future clients.”
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Henry Phillip Gruss Ltd. Attorneys Attend Forum on Obstetric Malpractice Claims – Philadelphia, PA – June 27-28, 2012
On June 27-28, 2012 Henry Gruss, Kristin Gruss and Gena Romagnoli attended the American Conference Institute’s 11th Annual Advanced Forum on Obstetric Malpractice Claims. The Forum took place in Philadelphia, PA.
During the opening session of the Forum, experts informed participants about developments and the current state of affairs in obstetric malpractice. Subsequent sessions covered a wide range of specific topics, including: exposures and risks; fetal monitoring and surveillance; neonatal brain injury; neural imaging; placental pathology; prenatal care; and the use of expert witnesses.
Henry Gruss noted, “This conference was presented by some of the pre-eminent physicians in the fields of obstetrics and pediatrics, and our participation is invaluable to our on-going relationship with these physicians in our cases.”
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Law firm keeps it all in the family as three members share the load – Article in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin – April 23, 2012
On April 23, 2012 the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin published an article about the law firm Henry Phillip Gruss Ltd. and its three attorneys: Henry Phillip Gruss, daughter-in-law Kristin Gruss and daughter Gena Gruss Romagnoli.
The article profiles each member of the firm and highlights the firm’s family focus. Henry Gruss is quoted as follows, “Dealing with wrongful death and medical malpractice, you always end up dealing with the whole family, not just one person. So it ends up with our family helping out another family. We like that a lot.”
To read the complete article, please click here.
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In the News – Article in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin – January 24, 2012
On January 24, 2012 the In the News column of the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin reported that Kristin M. Gruss joined the law firm Henry Phillip Gruss Ltd.