Practice Areas

Medical Negligence
Wrongful Death
Motor Vehicle Liability
Product Liability
Construction Liability
Premises Liability
Worker's Compensation
Nursing Home

Locations

Main Office
325 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Ste. 202
Libertyville, Illinois 60048
T 847-362-5385   F 847.362.5386

Chicago Office
20 N. Clark Street, Ste. 720
Chicago, IL 60602
T 312.263.6300  F 312.263.6356

Links

Lake County Circuit Court
Cook County Circuit Court
McHenry County Circuit Court
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Illinois Dept. of Public Health Nursing Homes

Injury Law Firm in Lake County, Illinois

Lawyers meeting with clients

When you need the help of an injury law firm dedicated to fighting for your rights, it's time to contact the professional team of Dudley & Lake. We are skilled legal experts with a focus on litigating wrongful death and personal injury cases for individuals and families who are victims of medical negligence, railroad, trucking or motor vehicle collisions, products liability and/or premises liability. We also represent employees injured on the job in Worker's Compensation lawsuits.

Dudley & Lake represents a select group of clients so as to ensure that the necessary time and financial resources are dedicated to each case. Specifically, the firm is committed to expeditiously advancing cases to settlement or trial. Since its formation in 2001, Dudley & Lake has obtained over $90 million in verdicts and settlements on behalf of its clients. The firm achieves success for it clients by utilizing various medical and scientific experts, as well as state of the art exhibits and demonstrative aids.

Currently, there are eight attorneys at the firm bringing over 100 years of combined experience, a level of knowledge and accomplishment that has helped us to become the premier Chicago personal injury law firm. If you've been injured through another person's negligence or poor treatment, call the skilled attorneys at Dudley & Lake today to get the quality representation you deserve. Life doesn't always seem fair, but you don't have to deal with the situation alone. Contact us today and let us help you fight back!

Record settlement in extravasation injury case.

A $2 million dollar settlement was reached on behalf of an 80 year old woman who suffered an extravasation injury after receiving chemotherapy from a malpositioned Port-A-Catheter at Hematology/Oncology of the Northshore. The settlement is the highest settlement on record in the state of Illinois for an extravasation injury.

In September, 2009, the plaintiff was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. After her diagnosis, it was ordered that she would have a central access Port-A-Catheter placed for the administration of the chemotherapy. Following placement, the port became malpositioned. On October 27, 2009, the plaintiff was given chemotherapy through the malpositioned port causing her to suffer a severe and debilitating chemical burn to her right chest wall. The chemotherapy extavasated outside the blood vessel and collected in the tissue of the right breast, destroying the surrounding tissue.

The plaintiff's injuries required a radical mastectomy and extensive surgeries to reconstruct the chest wall and eradicate infections. The plaintiff has recovered from her injuries and now lives with her husband.

The family was represented by J. Matthew Dudley and Marc E. McCallister of Dudley & Lake, LLC. The case was settled at trial before Judge Elizabeth Budzinski on January 24, 2011.

Diabetic Plaintiff Receives $750,000 Settlement for a Below the Knee Amputation

Kevin Golden has settled a case for $750,000 against two podiatrist and their medical group for neglecting an infected ulcer located on the bottom of a 64 year old diabetic patient's foot. The plaintiff had previously been diagnosed with neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease. The doctors examined the plaintiff's ulcer on July 28, 2006 and there was redness around the ulcer. The doctors prescribed pain medication and later that day the plaintiff travelled to Kalamazoo, Michigan on an Amtrak train. After arriving in Kalamazoo, the plaintiff was taken to a hospital and was diagnosed with osteomyelitis and cellulitis. The plaintiff underwent a below the knee amputation on July 30, 2006.

$8 million dollar settlement reached on behalf of man who suffered brain injury while being treated at Hospital.

An 8 million dollar settlement was reached on behalf of a 20 year old man who suffered a brain injury while being treated for brain cancer at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital.

In March, 2006, Justin Wudtke had been diagnosed with a brain tumor and was receiving his second round of chemotherapy at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois. During his first round of chemotherapy he was diagnosed with diabetes insipidus. When he was admitted for his second round of therapy, his pediatric endocrinologist was on vacation, and he was not seen or treated by another endocrinologist. On the evening of March 25, 2006, the plaintiff's sodium level dropped to 124. The plaintiff was a given a large amount of fluids and within 24 hours the sodium level shot up to 164. The plaintiff suffered a grand mal seizure and went into a coma for approximately 10 days.

The plaintiff suffered a severe brain injury as a result of the seizure and is now confined to a wheel chair and has been diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder, behavioral discontrol, seizure disorder, cognitive disorder and impulsive control disorder. The plaintiff is single and is being cared for by his mother and father. The plaintiff's cancer is in remission.

"This medical error seriously injured a young man who would have lead a normal life. However, Lutheran General Hospital accepted responsibility and resolved this manner in a timely fashion which will enable the Wudtke family to get the help and assistance that is needed to take care of Justin", stated their attorney, Kevin Golden of Dudley & Lake.

The case was settled after a mediation was conducted by Retired Judge Donald P. O'Connell on September 2, 2011.

The family is represented by Kevin J. Golden of Dudley & Lake, LLC. Advocated Lutheran General Hospital was represented by Patricia J. Barker of Castro and Barker and Mark Burden, of Donohue Brown Mathewson & Smyth. Cook County Judge Diane Larson approved this settlement on September 19, 2011.

$2.75 million settlement arising out of negligent monitoring during surgery.

Matthew Dudley settled a case on behalf of a widow who lost her husband of 20 years due to anesthesia negligence. The patient, a 50 year old truck driver, was undergoing an elective surgical procedure under general anesthesia. The anesthesiologist did not recognize that the endotracheal tube had been placed in the esophagus and as a result, the patient suffered profound brain damage from lack of oxygen which led to his death three days later.

"The anesthesiologist's failure to follow clearly recognized standards caused this patient's death. Anesthesia machines are equipped with monitoring devices which should detect the presence of carbon dioxide, indicating the patient has been correctly intubated. In this case, the anesthesiologist bypassed the built in monitoring device and ignored the requests of the nursing staff to recheck the intubation. This was a very preventable medical error."

$3.1 million settlement for client injured in motor vehicle collision

Attorneys Thomas Lake and Jacquelyn Melius successfully secured a 3.1 million dollar settlement on behalf of a sewer and water worker that was involved in a tragic motor vehicle accident. As a result of the accident, the injured laborer sustained injuries to his shoulder and leg which prevented him from returning to his union job. In addition to resolving this personal injury claim, Mr. Lake and Ms. Melius were able to successfully resolve the laborer's workers' compensation claim. The settlement reached provides the laborer and his family financial security and replaces the significant wages and benefits that were lost as a result of the accident.

$950,000.00 settlement for failure to timely diagnose cauda equine syndrome.

Matthew Dudley has settled a case for $950,000.00 against a Southern Illinois primary care physician for his failure to make a timely referral of his patient who was suffering from acute cauda equina syndrome. The plaintiff, a 50 year old, and in excellent health injured her back while exercising. She suffered a progression of her back and leg pain over the next three weeks. During that same time period, she saw her doctor numerous times and was having complaints of numbness and tingling and indicating potentially severe neurologic involvement in her "saddle" region. She went on to develop a complete inability to control her bladder and bowel.

Jury Returns a Record Verdict in Malpractice Case:

A Cook County jury awarded $25.04 million to an eight year old boy who suffered from lack of oxygen prior to birth resulting in permanent and irreversible brain damage. Dudley & Lake partners Matthew Dudley and Kevin Golden represented the child who was born on August 6, 2001 in Chicago. The trial took place in Chicago, Illinois and lasted from September 11 through September 29, 2009. The verdict is one of the highest medical malpractice verdicts in the history of the State of Illinois and represents the highest for 2009.

"The jury's verdict will allow the child's medical and caretaking needs to be fully provided for. We are extremely pleased with the result." Specifically, the jury determined that the doctor failed to properly interpret a non-stress test and an ultrasound both of which revealed very non reassuring findings.

Dudley & Lake retained five highly credentialed medical experts in order to establish the defendant was guilty of medical malpractice and to provide evidentiary support for the medical and caretaking needs which would be needed. The defendant retained medical experts in numerous fields of medicine.

"When representing the victims of medical malpractice it is important to know and understand the resources which will be used by the liability insurance companies to defend the case. Dudley & Lake is proud to be one of the select law firms who are capable of "matching" resources so that their clients receive the highest quality of representation."

"It was an honor and privilege to represent this family and to place accountability squarely where it belongs" said Matthew Dudley.

Personal Injury suit settles for $6 million

Mr. Lake represents a nine year old girl, who was tragically injured when a concrete wall collapsed and fell on her at the United States Navy Base in Great Lakes, Illinois. As a result of this event, Mr. Lake's client became blind in one eye, deaf and suffered significant scarring and disfigurement. Mr. Lake was able to achieve a global settlement with all defendants in this case for a total sum of $6,000,000.00.

Three Dudley & Lake lawyers are named as Super Lawyers

Matthew Dudley, Tom Lake and Kevin Golden were each selected by their peers as Super Lawyers for 2010.  Super Lawyers is an honor.  2010 marks the sixth consecutive year that Matthew Dudley and Tom Lake have been selected as Super Lawyers.  Super Lawyer distinction is unique in that lawyers cannot be nominated by anyone from their firm and the selection process results in less than 5% of the lawyers in the state being designated as Super Lawyers.  The designation by other lawyers is evidence that their peers, who observe Matt, Tom and Kevin on a daily bases recognize the professionalism and outstanding legal abilities.

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