Vernon Hills Dancer Paralyzed By Falling Bus Shelter Wins Nearly $150M From Chicago

CHICAGO, IL — A Vernon Hills woman who was paralyzed by a collapsing bus shelter at O'Hare International Airport in 2015 won a $148 million judgment Wednesday, the largest personal injury award handed down by a Cook County jury, according to ABC 7 Chicago. Tierney Darden, 26, was paralyzed from the waist down when the 750-pound shelter near the airport's Terminal 2 fell on her during a storm Aug. 2, 2015. Bolts were missing in the structure, and according to court documents, the City of Chicago took responsibility for the crash.

Darden's lawyer had asked for $175 million to cover his client's medical bills, as well as the pain she suffered from the incident, the report stated. Darden — a 2009 Vernon Hills High School graduate who was a dancer at Truman College at the time of the accident — had her spinal cord severed in the shelter collapse and requires 24-hour care, the report added.

The jury deliberated for only four hours before reaching their decision, the report stated. The city had initially offered Darden a $22 million settlement, which she refused, the report added. Darden's side offered a counter-settlement of $95 million, but that was rejected by the city, according to the Daily Herald. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Buffalo Grove. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

RELATED: Woman, 24, Paralyzed When O'Hare Shelter Falls Files Lawsuit

During a press conference Thursday, Darden said the money would help take some of the burder off of her parents, who currently care for her.

"It didn't have to happen to me. It shouldn't have happened to me," she said.

In a statement Wednesday, the city said it would be weighing its future legal options in the matter. Officials also told ABC 7 that the judgment would be paid through the city's insurance, not taxpayers.

More via ABC 7 Chicago

Photo via Shutterstock

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