Davis v. Marathon Oil Co.

After a jury trial in Douglas County circuit court, a $200,000 judgment was entered for plaintiff, Burleigh Davis, in an action for personal injuries against defendant, Marathon Oil Company. Verdicts were directed in favor of two other defendants, Donald Taylor and Helen Crawford, executor of the last will and testament of Victor J. Crawford, at the close of plaintiff’s case. Only Marathon appealed, the Appellate Court for the Fourth District affirmed (28 Ill. App. 3d 526), and we allowed defendant’s petition for leave to appeal.

Plaintiff’s injuries were the result of a gasoline explosion and…