Personal Injury Law

Lake Barrington Widow Ordered to Pay $6 Million Lake County Wrongful Death Award to Family of Murdered Arlington Heights Man

A jury has awarded a $6 million Lake County, Illinois wrongful death verdict to the half-brother and mother of Justin Newman, who was murdered by Ari Squire, who is accused of trying to collect on his own life insurance.

According to authorities, in 2008 Squire, 40, got the 20-year-old victim to come to his house by pretending to offer him a construction job. They say that Squire murdered Newman, switched clothes, leaving his wallet and identification on the Arlington Heights man before setting him on fire and dropping a diesel truck on his body. The physical damage was so severe that a DNA test was required to identify the body.

Police used the victim?s cell phone, car, and debit card data to find Squire, who was in Missouri. He shot himself before they could apprehend him.

The plaintiffs, Donna FioRito and Frank Testa III, accused Squire?s wife, Denise of conspiring with her deceased husband to fake his death, which included the plan to murder Newman. Illinois law holds co-conspirators liable in wrongful death cases.

Squire?s $5 million life insurance was payable to his wife, sister, and business partner Joseph Vaccaro upon his death. Police found email between the couple that were sent and received after his "murder."

Denise has not been criminally charged in Newman?s murder. The FBI and federal prosecutors are now handling the matter.

Testa and FioRito are also suing Vaccaro for Illinois wrongful death. They claim that he too conspired to fake Squire?s murder.

Chicago, Illinois Wrongful Death
There may be more than one party who should be held liable in civil court for your loved one?s Chicago wrongful death. Losing someone you love is always tragic, and you can hold reckless, negligent, careless, or malicious persons and entities liable if they contributed to causing the fatality.

Lake Barrington widow found liable in wrongful death scheme, Daily Herald, February 25, 2010

Police: Man faked own death, then committed suicide, ABC7News, March 7, 2008

Related Web Resource:
Illinois Wrongful Death Act

Full post as published by Chicago Injury Attorney Blog on February 27, 2010 (boomark / email).