PLEASANCE v. City of Chicago

Plaintiff, Pamela Pleasance, as special administrator of the estate of her son, Michael Pleasance, was issued a $12.5 million jury award in her wrongful death action. Defendants, the City of Chicago (the City) and Alvin Weems, appeal the trial court’s order denying their posttrial motion challenging that verdict. Defendants contend a new trial is warranted because the underlying trial was fundamentally unfair where plaintiffs counsel repeatedly made improper comments not based on evidence, and the trial court improperly issued jury instructions. Defendants also contend the trial court erred…