Robles v. Chicago Transit Authority

On December 17, 1980, the decedent, Ralph Robles, was fatally injured while exiting from the side doors at the rear of a Chicago Transit Authority (CTA or defendant) bus. The administrator of his estate, Mary Robles, brought a wrongful death and survival action against the CTA, but the original suit ended in a mistrial. In the subsequent trial, the court directed a verdict in favor of the CTA on the wrongful death and survival counts, which were premised on the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur; and the jury found for the CTA on the remaining counts as well. On appeal, this court held that the…