Thomas A. Bruno & Associates

Quinn signs new workers' comp bill into law

Posted on July 12th, 2011 No Comments

Two weeks ago, Governor Quinn signed into law a new workers’ compensation bill that is expected to reform the state’s workers’ compensation system. The governor estimates that the bill will save businesses in Illinois a total of $500 million a year.

Quinn said of the bill, “We’re going to be helping employers in Illinois, workers in Illinois, all of those who are committed to economic growth.”

The new workers’ comp bill was signed at the Navistar plant in Melrose Park. The bill includes new standards for determining if a worker is disabled, new safeguards to prevent abuses, and cuts to medical rates.

To discuss filing for workers’ compensation with an experienced attorney, contact the Champaign workers’ compensation lawyers of Thomas A. Bruno & Associates at 217-328-6000 today.

30 percent of teens admit to speeding

Posted on June 28th, 2011 No Comments

In a survey of more than 2,000 teenage drivers at 28 high schools across the United States, 68 percent of teens admitted that they had narrowly avoided being in a car accident. 30 percent of these teens said that they were speeding when the accident almost occurred.

In a separate study conducted by State Farm Insurance and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, in crashes caused by teen driver errors, 21 percent involved speeding. Another 20 percent involved distracted driving.

More than half of students surveyed said that their driving habits only changed for a couple of months after almost being in an accident.

If you or someone you know has been charged with a speeding violation, contact the Champaign speeding violation attorneys of Thomas A. Bruno & Associates to learn more about defending yourself against traffic violations.

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Orland Park man charged with several traffic violations

Posted on June 21st, 2011 No Comments

A 32-year old man from Orland Park was recently arrested on multiple traffic violation charges. According to Orland Park Police reports, an officer pulled the man over at around 4:25 A.M. after he was seen stopping and exiting his vehicle at the 9900 block of El Cameno Real Drive.

Officers arrested the man after discovering that he was driving without a license. In addition to being charged with driving without a license, the man was charged with driving with a suspended license, driving under the influence, and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.

Another man faced criminal charges after refusing to leave the scene of the arrest. Police charged the 23-year old Orland Park man with misdemeanor obstructing a police officer.

If you or someone you know needs legal advice after being charged with driving without a license, contact the Champaign driving without a license attorneys of Thomas A. Bruno & Associates at 217-328-6000 and let us help defend you against traffic violation charges.

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4 injured in Florida restaurant fire

Posted on June 13th, 2011 No Comments

Four people suffered burn injures after an accident caused a fire at a restaurant in Florida this weekend. According to county police officers, the fire started when a waiter at the Ozona Blue Grilling Co. was making an order of bananas foster tableside.

The dessert is made by pouring liquor over the top and the lighting it on fire. Reports indicate that the waiter held the bottle of 151-proof liquor too close to the dessert after lighting it on fire and the fire crept up towards the bottle. The liquor bottle caught firecausing the waiter to lose control and spill the flaming liquid onto a table of restaurant patrons.

One 25-year old woman at the table suffered serious burn injuries including third degree burns. She was taken to Tampa General Hospital via helicopter. Another woman at the table suffered respiratory burns and two men at the table suffered minor burn injuries.

If you or someone you love has been injured on another’s property, contact the Champaign injury lawyers of Thomas A. Bruno & Associates at 217-328-6000 to learn more about our premises liability experience and discuss your situation.

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Former Champaign detective admits to driving drunk

Posted on June 7th, 2011 No Comments

A 41-year old former Champaign police detective recently admitted to driving drunk. Last month, the former detective plead guilty to a misdemeanor DUI charge.

The charge of driving under the influence was made last December when the former officer hit an SUV driven by a teenager from Mahomet. The accident occurred at around 9:30 in the evening on County Road near Bondville.

The former detective issued the guilty plea under an agreement that she serve 180 days in jail and 160 days in remission. Also in the plea deal was a $1,000 fine, 2 years of probation, 150 hours of community service, $1,609 of restitution, and dismissal of felony charges related to the accident.

Contact the Champaign drunk driving attorneys of Thomas A. Bruno & Associates at 217-328-6000 today, if you or someone you know has been charged with drunk driving and needs experienced legal representation to defend them.

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UI police searching for dorm room intruder

Posted on June 1st, 2011 No Comments

After receiving reports about two men intruding in dorm rooms at the University of Illinois, police are looking for a second suspect. University officers already arrested one 20-year old man who they believe broke into a dorm room and stole some items in the room.

Officers began looking for two men after one student called police to tell them that as he woke up from a nap one afternoon, he saw two unknown men in his dorm room in Oglesby Hall. The first suspect was said to have attempted to steal the student’s computer, but dropped it on the way out. The other suspect was reported to have taken the student’s cellphone.

The suspect that police arrested was charged with residential burglary.

If you or someone you know has been charged with petit theft or a related charge, contact the Champaign petit theft lawyers of Thomas A. Bruno & Associates at 217-328-6000 to learn more about your rights to criminal defense.

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Gov. Quinn suggests workers' comp reform

Posted on May 24th, 2011 No Comments

Earlier this month, Governor Pat Quinn proposed a workers’ compensation reform plan at a meeting with the Illinois Retail Merchants Association and the Illinois Manufacturers Association.

In his plans, the Governor proposed making changes to workers’ compensation legislation in Illinois that would require workers eligible to receive workers’ compensation to have been injured on the job. The proposition is being referred to as the “causation” requirement. The President of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association expressed disapproval of the governor’s proposal.

In addition, Quinn stated that he would like to see a workers’ compensation reform written up and enacted before the legislative session ends on May 31st.

If you or a loved one has questions about applying for workers’ compensation benefits in Illinois, contact the Champaign workers’ compensation attorneys of Thomas A. Bruno & Associates at 217-328-6000 and set up an appointment to meet with one of our lawyers today.

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I-74 accident results in traffic violation charges

Posted on May 17th, 2011 No Comments

This past Sunday afternoon, an accident occurred on the ramp from I-57 to I-74. According to Illinois state police, the accident happened at around 4:50 P.M. when 37-year old Bloomington woman took the ramp from Interstate 57 north to Interstate 74 west.

The woman’s vehicle was seen hydroplaning across the lanes of the highway. The driver of a semitrailer from Indianapolis had to swerve to avoid the woman’ vehicle and crashed into a wall along the roadway in the process. The woman’s vehicle continued to spin out of control until hitting a median wall and then bouncing back into a bridge wall.

Both drivers were taken to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana for treatment of unspecified injuries. The driver from Bloomington may receive charges for reckless driving and improper lane usage.

If you or someone you know has been charged with reckless driving in Champaign, contact the Champaign reckless driving defense attorneys of Thomas A. Bruno & Associates at 217-328-6000 to learn more about how we can help defend you against traffic violation charges.

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Regional superintendent of schools pleads guilty to DUI

Posted on May 10th, 2011 No Comments

Yesterday, an Illinois regional superintendent of schools plead guilty to a misdemeanor DUI charge. The 49-year old superintendent oversees four west-central Illinois counties.

The superintendent was charged with driving under the influence last month after being pulled over at 12:30 A.M. on Concord-Arenzville Road. In a plead deal, improper traffic lane use and operating an uninsured motor vehicle charges were dropped.

The court sentenced the superintendent to one year of court supervision. If he completes the court supervision without breaking its terms and conditions, the conviction will be removed from his record. In addition, the superintendent was issued $1,140 in fines and will have an ignition-interlock device in his vehicle for six months.

If you or someone you know has been charged with drunk driving, experienced legal representation can help defend you against these charges. Contact the Champaign drunk driving attorneys of Thomas A. Bruno & Associates at 217-328-6000 to learn more about your rights.

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More surgical errors committed after night of drinking

Posted on May 3rd, 2011 No Comments

The Archives of Surgery recently published a study showing a correlation between surgical errors and hangovers. According to the study, surgeons who perform an operation the morning after a night of drinking commit about 50 percent more errors than they would normally.

The study asked 8 surgeons and 16 students to go out to dinner one evening. Half of the students were instructed not to drink any alcohol. The rest of the group was told they could drink as much as they wanted up to the point of being drunk. The following morning, surgeons and students performed surgery on a virtual reality patient.

Researchers found that both surgeons and students committed more surgical errors than when tested before, despite the fact that only one of the participants had a detectable level of alcohol in their system.

To discuss the steps to take after being the victim of a surgical error, contact the Champaign personal injury attorneys of Thomas A. Bruno & Associates at 217-328-6000 today.

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