In January 2009, approximately 1,500 Honduran workers at Nike Inc.'s Choloma and San Pedro Sula factories were shocked when their workplaces were shut down without notice.  Since then, anti-sweatshop university and student groups have been pressuring Nike Inc. to pay the laid off workers the compensation and severance they deserve.

Initially, Nike refused to pay the workers, arguing that it was the responsibility of their subcontractors, Vision Tex and Hugger.  However, on Monday, Nike Inc. announced the approval of $1.54 million in workers' compensation to be paid to the laid off Honduran workers.  The compensation will be distributed between workers based on length of service and earnings.

Scott Nova, director of the Workers Rights Consortium, stated his belief that Nike will "fully compensate workers for what they are owed".  On the contrary, many groups still believe the workers are owed around $2.2 million in severance payments.  

If you or someone you love is seeking workers' compensation, contact the Chicago workers' compensation attorneys of Friedman & Bonebrake, P.C. at 312-466-8200 to learn more about your rights. 

This past Saturday evening a three-car accident occurred on the Bishop Ford Freeway in Chicago's South Side.  The accident happened near 130th Street when a first vehicle struck a second in the northbound lanes of the freeway.  The second vehicle then crashed into a third vehicle before falling into a ditch.  

The Illinois State Police District Chicago officials are on the search for the man driving the first vehicle who fled the scene after causing the accident.  No description of the vehicle has been released.  

Four people in the third car were treated on the scene for minor injuries.  One person from the second car taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in critical condition.  Two others were sent to hospitals in fair-to-serious condition.  

If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident, contact the Chicago automobile accident attorneys of Friedman & Bonebrake, P.C. at 312-466-8200 to learn more about your rights. 

On July 9th, a coal miner was killed in a southern Illinois underground mine accident.  The accident occurred when 61-year old Thomas Brown was hit by a 20-ton loaded shuttle car at the Willow Lake mine.

Brown's death makes the U.S. mining death toll 41 so far this year.  As coal extraction rates have increased in the recent years, so have mining related deaths.  The Willow Lake mine alone employs 400 workers and operates year round, seven days a week.  Since 2008, Willow Lake has been cited at least 12 times by the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration for violations of workplace safety in life-threatening conditions.  MSHA records show Willow Lake has had 34 accidents injuring workers so far this year, and 62 since last July 2009.

Out thoughts and prayers go out to Brown's family and friends. 

A tragic car accident killed one and injured two in Stevenson on Saturday.  According to Chicago District police officials, the accident occurred on the southbound side of Stevenson Expressway around 4 AM at Franklin Street near I-90.

Officials say a Volkswagen collided with a BMW, sending the Volkswagen into a ditch where it caught on fire.  The unidentified driver of the Volkswagen was taken to MetroSouth Medical Center where he died.  The man and woman in the BMW were taken to the Rush University Medical Center with minor injuries.  

Accident reconstruction workers are investigating the accident.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the driver of the Volkswagen. 

Earlier this month, the Obama administration approved funds to be distributed to universities, medical centers, and state health departments in an attempt to reduce the costs and number of medical malpractice suits across the country.  25 million dollars worth of grants will hopefully reduce injury and improve doctor/patient communication, and as a result lower liability insurance premiums and minimize medical malpractice lawsuits.

President Obama promised Republicans in Congress last September that he would address the issue of medical malpractice in the United States.  He stated, "I don't believe malpractice reform is a silver bullet, but I've talked to enough doctors to know that defensive medicine may be contributing unnecessary costs".

If your or someone you love has been a victim of medical malpractice, contact the Chicago medical malpractice attorneys of Friedman & Bonebrake, P.C. at 312-466-8200 to learn more about your rights.