Valley View School District (365-U) Settles Law Suit Over School Bus Hitting Pedestrian
Valley View School District (365-U) Settles Law Suit Over School Bus Hitting Pedestrian
It was a warm crisp morning on July 31st, 2007, When Ms. Marilyn Stark headed out for some exercise and took a morning’s walk. When she arrived at the corner of Boughton Road and Featherstone Drive, she was halfway through her daily routine. She stepped up to the curb and shaded her eyes. She looked east across the intersection where she was near the newly opened Bolingbrook Promenade Shopping Center. The light was red, she noticed a School Bus was there, operated by Ms. Judith Chitty, 50 of Romeoville, and proceeded to cross the intersection in continuing her morning walk. Ms. Chitty, wanting to turn westbound on Boughton Road, failed to see Marilyn and proceeded to drive the School Bus westbound. After the bus was rolling again Ms. Chitty heard 2 thumps, stopped the bus and realized she had rolled over Marilyn, crushing her chest and body and inevitably ending her life. The entire accident was caught on tape by a security camera at the nearby Macy’s Department store and by 8:40am, the 66 year old Marilyn Stark was pronounced dead.
A local personal injury attorney, John M. Kogut (815-722-5000) filed a wrongful death suit against Ms. Chitty and the Valley View School District with the Will County Court in Joliet Illinois. The suit was filed on behalf of the Estate of Marilyn Stark, namely Marilyn’s lifetime partner for 37 years, Ms. Eleanor “Ellie” Welz and other family members.
Ms. Stark lived a quiet life. She served in the Marine Corps, after her discharge for faithful duty she came to Chicago to work in the Advertising industry as an illustrator and later worked from home illustrating with her computer. After retiring in 2001, she still freelanced as a graphic artist.
For the last 12 years she as the president of Board of Trustees of Unity Church of Oak Park and served as a Chaplain. She sang in the choir and was a soloist as well.
In the months before her death, Ms. Stark was busy planning her church’s 50th anniversary celebration, she also had a freelance job to complete for a company that did quite a lot of business with the McDonald’s Corporation. But lastly, Ellie Welz said Marilyn was planning a trip to England for the couple and the Church, “she was really looking forward to the trip” said Welz, “It was something she really wanted to do.”
Recently, the Valley View School District and Judith Chitty settled the law suit for an undisclosed amount. “In this situation,” attorney John M. Kogut said, “there is no real justice for an accident that could have been avoided by taking a little more care to watch out for pedestrians at a cross-walk, however, at least Marilyn’s loved one’s will receive financial support to pay for food, clothing, shelter and other necessities, until they can meet again spiritually, and I’m glad I could help with that.”
To reach Attorney John M. Kogut, contact him at 815-722-5000, or online at www.johnmkogut.com and via e-mail at attorneykogut@yahoo.com.
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This article was featured in the Joliet Herald Newspaper on 3/21/08 and is currently seen on TribLocal.com.
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