To Catch a Thief
To Catch a Thief
Our client, a not-for-profit, found itself the victim of an elaborate scheme through which its founder stole more than a million dollars from the organization’s coffers. We helped our client navigate the choppy waters of the investigations that ensued and helped it recover the full limits of its coverage, including recovery for the costs it incurred in the investigation of the loss. While this recovery was not the largest that Goodman Law Group | Chicago secured for a client, it ranks as among the best because it returned funds to support a community that was in dire need.
Illinois Insurance Math: When We Made 1 + 1 Equal Won
When the Lights Went Out
Illinois Insurance Math: When We Made 1 + 1 Equal Won
A client came to us on the eve of trial with a problem: its insurer told it following an unsuccessful mediation that one of the two claims against it was not covered. The lawsuit sought to hold our client responsible for failing to prevent two fights from happening on its property and alleged that our client was responsible for the severe injuries resulting from the two fights. One of the fights occurred on the last day covered by the insurance policy and the second fight occurred on the next day – a day without insurance coverage. Our client asked us to help them understand how to allocate the damages between the two fights based on what it had been told by the insurance company: that the injuries from the second fight were not insured. But applying our knowledge of insurance coverage law, we pushed back on the insurance company arguing that since both fights were alleged to have arisen from the same conditions that our client was alleged to have created, both fights were in reality just one occurrence: an occurrence fully covered by our client’s insurance policy. The insurer backed down and accepted responsibility for all of the injuries our client was alleged to have caused. In short, we made 1 + 1 equal WON, getting the insurer to cover both fights.
Scholastic
This publisher and distributor participates in a campaign that strives to raise money to ensure children from low-income households in a Chicago public school have access to books. The campaign, titled “A Book at Home for Every Child,” supports the efforts of Nancy Wright, a teacher at Joyce Kilmer Elementary School, who started a book vending machine in her school of 700 students pre-K through grade 8, primarily coming from underprivileged backgrounds. Each child is given tokens by their teacher, which they use to pick out and keep their own new books. The purpose of this project is to inspire a love of reading and provide students with resources they may not have access to at home. GLG’s donation will help Ms. Wright with the ongoing task of maintaining and stocking the vending machine with a variety of new, desirable, and interesting books.
New Moms
A Chicago non-profit that supports new parents with housing, job training, academic coaching, and family support. The organization’s comprehensive approach provides aid to mothers who are 24 years or younger and often impacted by systemic and structural barriers. New Moms combines behavioral research, proven methodology, and 40 years of real-world experience to give moms and their kids a path to lasting success. The firm understands there are too many young parents without the skill, support, or guidance to parent. In celebration of Mother’s Day, the firm chose to help young mothers in need and support New Moms as the organization helps to fill the gaps in resources available to new parents.
Giovanni Guzzardo College Fund
Giovanni Guzzardo College Fund
Giovanni is the son of John Guzzardo, a former colleague of David’s and Carrie’s with whom they worked closely. In June of 2021, John and Giovanni, along with John’s best friend Aaron Morgan, were involved in a head-on collision. John and Aaron were pronounced dead at the scene, but by nothing less than a miracle, Giovanni survived the accident and is expected to fully recover from his injuries. John was loved by so many people, and he will be remembered by all. He was a skilled attorney and man of so many talents, who was always there for those in need. Like his dad, Giovanni is incredibly smart and has a very bright future. If you wish to help support his future education, a college fund account has been set up and all funds raised will go towards his continued education.
Alzheimer’s Association
Leading the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Donated in memory of David’s father, Mel Goodman, who passed away five years ago from Alzheimer’s disease.
Crisis Center for South Suburbia
Providing hope and services to victims of domestic violence for 40 years through housing, counseling, advocacy, outreach and prevention programs. The Crisis Center for South Suburbia operates a 35-bed emergency shelter and has impacted the lives of more than 60,000 people. With a staff of more than 50 employees and a budget of over four million dollars, the Crisis Center continues to grow while offering free services to Chicago’s south suburban communities.
West Town Feeds
A community based program providing food and services to its neighbors in need. Since November West Town Feeds has provided over 15,000 meals to its neighbors who are experiencing homelessness, living in shelters, and families in need throughout Chicago.
Deborah’s Place
Deborah’s Place opens doors of opportunity for women who are homeless in Chicago. Supportive housing and services offer women their key to healing, achieving their goals and moving on from the experience of homelessness. Deborah’s Place started out humbly as an overnight shelter in a church basement. Now with two program locations and more than 115 units of housing across the city, Deborah’s Place is now the largest provider of permanent supportive housing in Chicago exclusively for unaccompanied women. It serves more than 400 women a year with the goal that once a woman comes to Deborah’s Place, she will never be homeless again.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Negaunee Music Institute
Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Negaunee Music Institute
Connecting people and their communities to the extraordinary musical resources of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Through industry-leading programs that educate audiences, train musicians, and serve diverse communities, Negaunee Music Institute transforms lives through participation in music. During the global pandemic, NMI has reimagined its programming to be delivered primarily online so that children continue to have access to music education and young instrumentalists continue their musical development, as the arts are more important than ever.
