Illinois Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

The owner of the dogs who viciously attacked and killed a neighbor seven years ago was sentenced Monday to 15 years to life in prison.

Marjorie Knollwer was convicted initially convicted of of second-degree murder in the 2001. The trial judge reduced the charge to involuntary manslaughter. Ms. Knollwer was sentenced in 2002 to 4 year prison term.

A California Supreme Court judge disagreed with the reduction to involuntary manslaughter and sent the case back. The murder conviction was reinstated by Superior Court Judge Charlotte Woolard. Ms. Knollwer was sentenced on Monday.

The case is the California's first murder conviction connected to a dog mauling, prosecutors say.

In Illinois the victim of a dog attack may be able to pursue a civil action against the owner of the dog for damages incurred as a result of the dog attack including compensation for injuries, lost wages and pain and suffering.

Posted by Donald W. Fohrman | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Dog Bite

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A Chicago man dies in a motorcycle crash late Saturday on the Racine Avenue exit ramp of the Kennedy Expressway, police said.

Edward Massas, 33 of the 800 block of West Adams Street was thrown from his motorcycle after losing control at 700 N. Racine about 11:30 p.m. No other vehicles were involved, police said. Massas was not wearing a helmet, according the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

The cause is under investigation.

The State-of-Illinois does not legally require motorcyclists to wear a helmet when operating a motorcycle.

According to a study by Jeffrey Coben, M.D., a researcher at West Virginia University, states that do not require motorcycle riders and passengers to wear helmets may be contributing to the unnecessary deaths, hospitalizations, and long-term disabilities.

Traffic deaths last year reached the highest level since 1990, due to an increase in motorcycle and pedestrian fatalities. Motorcycle deaths rose for an eighth straight year.

Posted by Donald W. Fohrman | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Motorcycle Accidents

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On Friday night an East Garfield Park boy was mauled by a neighbor’s pitbulls while retrieving a ball that had gone across the fence and into the neighbor’s yard. Trayshawn Toliver was attacked by 3 pitbull puppies.

The police were flagged down at about 7:45 pm and tried to scare off the dogs. “The dogs were relentless in their grip of the young victim,” said Chicago Police Officer John Mirabelli.

Attempts to lift Trayshawn over the chain-link fence were unsuccessful. Officers used pepper spray before they were forced to shoot and kill two of the dogs. The third ran away, but was later caught by the Animal Care and control unit.

Continue reading " East Garfield Park dog bite victim remains hospitalized " »

Posted by Donald W. Fohrman | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Dog Bite

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