Personal Injury Law

Illinois Family Files Chicago Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against White Castle

The parents of Ronald L. Heard Jr., a man who died in 2007 after being shot outside a restaurant in Chicago?s South Side, is suing White Castle System for his wrongful death. Their Illinois civil lawsuit accuses the restaurant of creating an environment that allowed drug dealers and violence on the premise.

Heard was gunned down on October 6, 2007 while trying to help a woman that a drug dealer was harassing in the restaurant parking lot. His parents, Nena Heard and Ronald Heard, Sr. are the plaintiffs in the wrongful death lawsuit against White Castle. They are accusing the restaurant of failing to protect its customers, failing to have a security guard on the premise who could reduce violence, allowing drugs to be sold on the property, and failing to tell police that drug deals were occurring on the premise.

Their son?s shooting death occurred at the White Castle on S. Western Avenue. A drug dealer reportedly tried selling Heard marijuana while he was in line to order food at the drive-thru window. Heard refused, and the drug dealer allegedly tried to sell drugs to a woman in another vehicle. The dealer reportedly began arguing with her and then shot the 23-year-old when he came forward to help the woman. Two men were charged in Heard?s shooting death.

Premises Liability
If a property owner knows that there is a history of crimes occurring on or around the premise, then he or she must take proper measures to protect patrons, visitors, customers, or residents from becoming the victims of similar crimes in the future. A failure to protect from criminal acts can be grounds for an Illinois premises liability or wrongful death lawsuit.

Steps property owners can take to protect others from crimes:

? Installing security cameras
? Hiring security guards
? Issuing warning signs
? Installing security alarm systems
? Reporting suspicious or illegal activities to Chicago police

Lawsuit Blames White Castle in Man's Shooting Death, The Southtown Star, November 4, 2008

Related Web Resources:
Premises Liability, Justia

White Castle System

Full post as published by Chicago Injury Attorney Blog on November 07, 2008 (boomark / email).