$975,000 settles Lombard woman’s wrongful death suit

Jane Heflin of Lombard will receive a $975,000 settlement for a wrongful death lawsuit she filed against a Chicago property management company after the 2008 death of her son, a Cook County judge ruled.

Heflin’s son, Sean Heflin, was 24 on July 1, 2007, when he fell from a second-story porch at his girlfriend’s apartment at 1909 N. Bissell St. in Chicago, according to a news release from the family’s law firm, Levin & Perconti of Chicago.

He suffered a traumatic brain injury and died Jan. 14, 2008.

Heflin’s lawsuit alleged railings on the porch were about 10 inches shorter than the 42-inch height required by the Chicago Building Code. It also alleged Sean’s death could have been avoided if Stammich Management LLC, of Chicago, which owns and manages the building, provided rails of the proper height.

Judge Kathy Flanagan on Monday ruled Stammich Management must pay Heflin $975,000 to settle the wrongful death suit.