Carey v. J.R. Lazzara, Inc.

The plaintiff, Anne Carey, appeals from a judgment entered in favor of the defendant, J.R. Lazzara, Inc., following a jury trial on her action for negligence. On appeal, we must determine whether the trial court committed reversible error by (1) giving Illinois Pattern Jury Instructions, Civil, No. B120.09 (3d ed. 1993) (hereinafter IPI Civil 3d No. B120.09) and refusing the plaintiff’s tendered jury instruction concerning her burden of proof, (2) responding to a note from the jury by directing it to rely on previously given instructions without first consulting the parties, and (3) ruling as…