Lam v. Northern Illinois Gas Co.

Plaintiff, Kwai Paul Lam, brought a negligence action against defendant, Northern Illinois Gas Company (NI-Gas), to recover damages for personal injuries he suffered in a gas explosion. In a jury trial, a verdict was returned in favor of defendant. Plaintiff moved for judgment notwithstanding the verdict or, in the alternative, for a new trial on the grounds that certain evidence improperly had been admitted because it was hearsay and violated the best evidence rule. The trial court denied the motion for judgment n.o.v. but granted plaintiff’s motion for a new trial. We allowed defendant’s…