The mother of a man killed by his girlfriend's father is suing the alleged shooter's estate, alleging battery and wrongful death in the 2011 murder-suicide that claimed both men's lives.
Mary Ann Morrison, known as Mary Ann O’Connell, as special administrator of the estate of Bradley Morrison, filed a lawsuit Oct. 13 in Cook County Circuit Court against Christine Kuemper, as special administrator of the estate of Edward J. Kuemper, reopening an action initially filed in October 2011 and dismissed without prejudice Oct. 15, 2014.
The suit states Edward Kuemper breached his care of duty when he fatally shot Bradley Morrison of Arlington Heights on Feb. 20, 2011, when Morrison was on Kuemper’s property at 1540 E. Reynolds Drive, Palatine.
According to the complaint, Kuemper committed offensive contact, or created “an imminent apprehension” of such contact, when he failed to keep the safety lock on his gun, pointed his firearm at another person, engaged in a physical altercation while holding a loaded firearm and discharged his weapon in Morrison’s direction.
The lawsuit states the gunshot resulted in Morrison’s death. Morrison is survived by his mother, the plaintiff, and his brother, Steven Morrison.
Mary Ann Morrison seeks more than $50,000 for costs, plus attorney fees and other relief the court deems appropriate. She is represented by the law firm of Momkus McCluskey in Chicago.