Grothen v. Marshall Field & Co.

After a jury trial in the circuit court of Cook County, defendant, Marshall Field and Company (hereinafter Field’s), was assessed damages of $244,000 for injuries plaintiff, Carolyn Grothen, sustained as a result of a tripping incident in one of its stores. The jury found plaintiff to be 50% contributorily negligent and judgment was entered on the verdict for $122,000. The trial court later granted plaintiff’s post-trial motion and entered judgment notwithstanding the verdict for $244,000.

On appeal, defendant contends (1) the trial court erroneously permitted the irrelevant testimony of a…