Chicago Events is being sued over several injuries and one death caused by allegedly flailing tent equipment during a severe storm at its Prairie Festival in Wood Dale.
Nicole Nincic of Wood Dale, as administrator of the estate of Steven Nincic; Jason Zak of Hanover Park; and Daniel Blankenship of Bartlett Village, as parent of Christopher Weiss; filed a complaint on Aug. 11 in Cook County Circuit Court against CP OPCO LLC, doing business as Classic Party Rentals and Chicago Running and Special Events Management Inc, Chicago Special Events Management, Special Events Management and Chicago Events.
The city of Wood Dale hired the defendant to help facilitate its annual Prairie Fest from July 30 to Aug. 2 at Wood Dale Junior High School.
As the plaintiffs attended the event on Aug. 2, a severe storm came, though organizers chose not to evacuate the festival grounds, the lawsuit states.
The attendees were encouraged to seek shelter under tents at the festival, the lawsuit states. The plaintiffs were severely injured and Steven Nuncic was killed, when stakes and other tent support devices were "ripped from the ground and flung about amongst the guest seeking shelter beneath the tents," the lawsuit states.
The plaintiffs seek damages of more than $400,000, plus costs.
The plaintiffs are represented by Louis C. Cairo and Colin J. O'Malley of Goldberg, Weisman and Cairo Ltd. in Chicago.
Cook County Circuit Court case number 2015L008212.