CHICAGO (October 28, 2019)—The Honorable Christopher E. Lawler of the Circuit Court of Cook County entered an order Friday appointing a Lead Counsel, Co-Lead Counsels, an Executive Committee, and a Liaison Counsel to advance discovery and manage pre-trial proceedings in the cases against Sterigenics: Willowbrook’s embattled and recently-shuttered medical sterilization facility.
Antonio Romanucci of Romanucci & Blandin, LLC was appointed Lead Counsel for the group. Four Co-Lead Counsels were appointed, including Todd Smith of Power Rogers & Smith L.L.P; Patrick Salvi, II of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C.; Steven Hart of Hart McLaughlin & Eldridge, LLC; and Shannon McNulty of the Clifford Law Offices.
The Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee includes Romanucci & Blandin, LLC, Power Rogers & Smith, L.L.P., Salvi Schostok & Pritchard, P.C., Hart McLaughlin & Eldridge, LLC; Clifford Law Offices; Tomasik Kotin & Kasserman, LLC; The Collins Law Firm P.C.; and Miner Barnhill & Galland, P.C.
Bryce Hensley of Romanucci & Blandin, LLC was appointed as Liaison Counsel.
“We have had such a massive victory for the future of Illinois with the shutdown of the Willowbrook Sterigenics facility, but those who are still suffering today from the past wrongs of this company require more closure than that,” said Antonio Romanucci of Romanucci & Blandin, LLC. “I am honored to represent and lead this group along with my co-counsels and will do my best to seek justice for every victim.”
“Cases of this magnitude, with this many people injured, and with this many families devastated will require the collective efforts of the group established by the Court. I am confident this team will work well together to achieve a positive outcome. We look forward to working together to advance our clients’ individual stories and cases,” said Patrick Salvi II of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C.
There are currently just under 50 cases pending before Judge Lawler, which name Sterigenics and other parties responsible for causing leukemia, lymphoma, breast cancer, miscarriages, and other medical conditions. Despite being coordinated for pre-trial and discovery purposes, each case will be tried individually.
“Sterigenics has been a harmful actor in this and other communities around the country. We have lost the lives of children and adults in Willowbrook, and Sterigenics needs to be held to account for their actions. I am looking forward to concluding these cases quickly, fairly and efficiently alongside the strong team that has been appointed,” said Todd Smith of Power Rogers & Smith L.L.P.
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