Kenneth J. Allen & Associates, P.C.
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Those three words best describe the driving forces behind Kenneth J. Allen & Associates. Our firm is devoted exclusively to the practice of Accident and Injury Law, and exclusively to the people – not corporations – seriously hurt or killed in incidents as varied as on-the-job accidents, semi-truck crashes, injuries from a defective product, or loss of life because of a doctor’s medical malpractice.
As the only multi-state law firm in Chicagoland accepting serious injury and wrongful death cases, exclusively, Kenneth J. Allen & Associates is experienced and knowledgeable in the details and procedures that can make or break a case. Although there is a growing aversion nationwide to large jury verdicts, Kenneth J. Allen & Associates has been successful in conveying a simple fact to juries, insurance companies and at-fault corporations: Lawsuits cover real costs that real people incur when they are seriously hurt by the negligent or irresponsible behavior of others – costs they would not face if they had never been injured. The costs, when accurately and judiciously tallied to account for medical inflation and quality of life issues, can be staggering.
Kenneth J. Allen & Associates carefully screens each potential case before taking it on, and one of the key questions the firm seeks to answer affirmatively is, “Will a greater good be served?” We seek not only to compensate our clients, but to prevent tragedies from happening in the future.
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Family of Gary teacher files lawsuit in fatal truck crash
May 17, 2008
The family of a Gary Roosevelt High School math teacher who was killed when a tractor-trailer rear-ended her van two weeks ago has filed a $50 million lawsuit against the trucking company
Kenneth J. Allen, a Valparaiso attorney who represents the family, filed the lawsuit against Schneider National Carrier Inc. of Gary and its driver, Justin R. Wallace of Pennsylvania.
Allen called the death "clearly avoidable" and a result of "negligence." He's filed a petition for a temporary restraining order to preserve crash evidence.
"We are trying to protect this family's right to know the truth," Allen said. "This was a tragedy for the family and the community."
According to documents filed in Lake Circuit Court on Friday, Wallace was driving a tractor-trailer with Schneider logos on May 4 west on U.S. 30 near County Road 300W in Columbia City, when he "violently struck" the Oldsmobile van driven by Gates. The van was stopped at a signal light in front of another vehicle.
Gates, 59, had been a Gary teacher for more than three decades and participated in the Amateur Athletic Union with Gary-area children.
Allen said he met with her husband, Samuel W. Gates, who was a passenger during the crash, and prepared the case.
"We intend to hold the responsible defendants fully accountable for the harm they caused," Allen said. "She was a gifted teacher who inspired her students to do better, and she will be missed."
The request for a restraining order forbids alteration of any truck equipment, including any onboard event recorder and electronic control module -- which may have data on the truck's speed, brake conditions, and hours of services.
Allen said he believes the crash was caused by Schneider cutting back on maintaining costly safety standards due to the high price of diesel gas.
"It's a trend we don't want to see continued," Allen said
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