Lindenhurst woman to receive nearly $1 million settlement from Antioch restaurant

A Lindenhurst woman who sued an Antioch restaurant for injuries she said she suffered when an outdoor fireplace exploded received nearly $1 million as part of a settlement reached earlier this month, her attorneys said Monday afternoon.

LaVerne Burress suffered an injury to her Achilles tendon, which later required surgery, while fleeing from the explosion in September 2020 on a patio at Anastasia's Restaurant & Sports Lounge, 950 Hillside Ave., according to the suit.

A request for comment to a restaurant representative was not immediately returned Monday evening.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of her and her husband Charles Burress by Waukegan-based Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard law firm in April 2021.

The parties agreed to settle the case for $995,500 on May 12, which according to a news release from the law firm was just days before a trial was set to begin at the Lake County courthouse.

"We are pleased to have resolved this case without having her testify at trial," Burress' attorney John A. Mennie said. "We hope this settlement will provide her with some closure and lead to a recovery from her PTSD."

According to the complaint, an investigation revealed the explosion resulted from a crack between the gas pipe and hose on the fireplace.