Montgomery v. City of Chicago

Plaintiff, Thelmar Montgomery, filed suit against defendant, city of Chicago, seeking to recover damages for a back injury sustained when plaintiff’s automobile struck a pothole in a city street.

After a trial, a jury awarded a verdict in favor of plaintiff against the city in the amount of $1,500. Finding that “some *** prejudicial factor must have been applied by the jury to the facts,” the trial court granted plaintiff’s motion for a new trial on the issue of damages only. A second jury awarded a verdict of $3,500 against the city and, without setting forth any reasons, the trial court…