In Alabama the "Stand Your Ground Defense" is of no comfort to battered women. - Mark P. Loftus

duda • September 26, 2025

In the January issue of the New Yorker , Elizabeth Flock wrote this compelling article on Brittany Smith – a battered Alabama woman[pictured above] who shot and killed the man who had savagely attacked her. The article detailed how Smith, a young woman in her thirties, was finally feeling good about life in January of 2018. Smith had battled her share of demons. She had struggled with substance abuse and had lost custody of her three children. But in 2018 Smith had cleaned up and had landed a job paying a decent wage. She was confident that she would soon be getting increased visitation with her kids. Things were looking up.

On that day in January of 2018, she had gotten a call from an old friend – Todd Smith[no relation]. Todd bred pit bulls in Jasper, Tennessee, not that far from where Brittany lived. Brittany had been at Todd’s house the day before and had taken a puppy home with her. When Todd called that day he said he was stranded in a nearby park and needed a place to stay. Despite some misgivings – Brittany had previously rejected his advances – she agreed to pick him up. Brittany brought Todd to her house and not long after he arrived, Todd assaulted her. He choked her until she lost consciousness. When she was woke she was naked and Todd was sexually assaulting her. He beat her again until she again lost consciousness. Afterward, Todd told her that if she ever told anyone about what had occurred he would kill her and her family.

Brittany called her mother Ramona while Todd held the phone. Ramona thought something was wrong and sent Chris – Brittany’s brother – over to Brittany’s house. Todd, Brittany and Chris then drove to get cigarettes. The clerk at a local gas station who knew Brittany noticed her tangled hair, battered hands and scratched face. When he asked if she was ok, Brittany wrote “Todd Smith” on a piece of paper and said Todd had beaten and raped her. She asked him not to call the police however, as she was worried Todd would follow through on his threats to her family.

When Chris dropped Todd and Brittany off, Brittany communicated to her brother that he should return to the gas station. He did and learned what had happened to Brittany. Chris returned to the Brittany’s armed with a .22 caliber pistol. Chris confronted Todd in the house and told him to leave. Todd refused. Chris placed the gun on a counter and a fight ensued. Todd – who was previously ingested a combination of Xanax, amphetamines, meth and alcohol was soon choking Chris. Brittany grabbed the gun and shot Todd. The bullet had no impact. She fired two more rounds and then called 911.

Todd died a short time later. Brittany told the police he had beaten her and raped her and also assaulted Chris. The rape kit showed bruises on Brittany’s neck, breasts, arms, legs and pelvis. There were undeniable signs of attempted strangulation. There were bite marks on her chin and neck.

48 hours later, Brittany was charged with murder.

Initially, Brittany and Todd told police Todd had fired the gun. The reason? Because they thought, as do lots of people in Alabama, that a woman who defends herself against violence from a man doesn’t get a fair shake.

Todd’s assault of Brittany was hardly his first act of violence against a woman. He broke his ex-wife’s nose in the early 2000’s. Subsequently he broke her nose a second time, her ribs, and her jaw. He also repeated sexually assaulted her. He would be charged with domestic violence on five separate occasions. He continued beating his ex-wife even after they divorced. Todd was arrested approximately 80 times before he died.

Despite all that, in March, 2018, Brittany was indicted for Todd’s murder.

Brittany decided that she would assert the “Stand Your Ground” Defense – based on Alabama law which permits lethal force against a threat.

Last month, Flock wrote a follow up article detailing how an Alabama judge ruled that Brittany would not be allowed to assert the Stand Your Ground defense. The judge’s “reasoning” is difficult to comprehend and appears to ignore undisputed evidence of vicious assaults upon both Brittany and her brother. Testimony of Todd’s history of violence against women was stricken.

Although Brittany can seek to reverse the decision, that’s a longshot. The most likely scenario is that Brittany will be tried for murder.

MENTAL SUFFERING DAMAGES ALLOWED UNDER NEW LAW - Mark P. Loftus

By duda • September 26, 2025
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich recently legislation that will permit successful plaintiffs to receive jury awards for grief, sorrow and mental suffering in Wrongful Death cases. The new law finally allows the surviving spouse and next of kin to recover for their anguish over the loss of their loved one. Prior to passage of the law, family members couldn’t even mention their grief at trial, as any such mention just might be grounds for reversal of the verdict. Illinois has now joined with 23 other states that allow such damages.

FILE THOSE RULE 222 AFFADAVITS!!! - Mark P. Loftus

By duda • September 26, 2025
The Fourth District Appellate Court of Illinois[Champaign County] recently came down with an opinon that will make Illinois personal injury attorneys check their complaints a little more closer. In Grady v. Machini[opinion filed on July 31, 2007] the plaintiff filed a complaint to recover damages for injuries she suffered in an auto accident. The complaint did not have an affadavit, as required by Supreme Court Rule 222, stating whether the damages sought did, or did not exceed $50,000. The case went to trial and the jury awarded $97,700. The defendant brought a post-trial motion to reduce the damages to $50,000. The trial court did so and the plaintiff appealed. The Appellate Court felt that Rule 222 was very clear – in effect, it requires that a party to attach an affadavit stating whether the damages sought did or did not exceed $50,000. The rule goes on to say any judgment that exceeds $50,000 shall be reduced to $50,000 if the damages sought do not exceed the $50,000 mark. The court ruled that as plaintiff did not file an affadavit asying she was seeking more than $50,000 she could not recover more than that amount. Ouch.

ILLINOIS HEALTHCARE SERVICES LIEN ACT - Mark P. Loftus

By duda • September 26, 2025
I recently had a situation with an Illinois Healthcare provider that I had managed to avoid for the last twenty years. Represented an older man for injuries he had received in an automobile accident. The client was a very nice guy who had come here from another country decades ago, worked hard and raised his family. Didn’t have much education, but always worked. He got pretty smashed up in the collision and had a fairly substantial hospital bill. He didn’t have any insurance at the time, so the hospital agreed to issue a lien for the outstanding amount, to be paid out of any settlement. Typically, [at least in my experience] the healthcare provider will usually accept a discounted amount in FULL AND FINAL SETTLEMENT OF ANY OUTSTANDING BILL. The reduction is an implicit acknowledgement that but for the efforts of the attorney, the medical bill would not have been paid. Getting back to my client, his bill was outstanding for a long time, so the hospital sent it out to collection. Collection agency contacts me and advises that after payment of the lien, they will pursue the client for any outstanding amount. I call the hospital and speak to personnel in management who agree that normally, after payment of the reduced amount, they forget about the balance. I pass this onto the collection agency, who insists on pursuing the client for any amounts outstanding. So although the hospital has conceded that their custom and practice is to accept the discounted amount in full settlement, the collections bloodsuckers refuse to budge. The inmates have apparently taken over the asylum. My only option is to bring a Motion to Adjudicate the Lien, which isn’t a particularly good option. Under 770 ILCS 23/45, healthcare providers are entitled to go after the entire amount. Hopefully the judge will recognize the unfairness of the collection agency ignoring hospital policy, and give my client a break. To be continued…

SEVENTH CIRCUIT WEIGHS IN ON RETALIATORY DISCHARGE - Mark P. Loftus

By duda • September 26, 2025
The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, located in Chicago, Illinois, recently discussed the proof a plaintiff must offer when prosecuting a retaliatory discharge case. In McCoy v. Maytag, Thomas McCoy brought a retaliatory case against his former employer, Maytag, for firing him after he filed a Workers Compensation Act. The Court, in the course of its opinion, set forth the elements a Illinois plaintiff must prove: 1) that he was the defendant’s employee before the injury; 2) that the employee exercised a right granted by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act and 3) that he was discharged from his employment with a causal connection to his filing the Workers’ Compensation claim. The hard part in these cases is the third element – causation. The Court noted that “The element of causation is not met if the employer has a valid basis, which is not pretextual, for discharging the employee.” So what does that mean in English? The Court explained that in order to show pretext, “…a plainitff must offer evidence to indicate that the employer did not honestly believe the reasons it gave for its action and is simply lying to cover its tracks.” Pretext “…means more than a mistake on the part of the employer; pretext means a lie, a specifically a phony reason for some action.” In short, the plaintiff has to show the employer’s reason for discharge was a lie. Not an easy thing to prove, as Mr. McCoy found out. The Seventh Circuit upheld the Trial Court’s decision to grant summary judgment against plaintiff, ruling that the plaintiff’s failure to provide regular updates to justify his absence from work[required under the Collective Bargaining Agreement]was a non-pretextual reason for the termination.

TRENT LOTT HAS AN EPIPHANY ABOUT INSURANCE ABUSES - Mark P. Loftus

By duda • September 26, 2025
Senator Trent Lott, the powerful Republican Senator from Mississippi, has seen the light. Lott, who, until very recently, was a longtime defender of insurance companies, is no longer. Senator Lott lost his home to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. He filed a claim with his insurer, State Farm. The “Like a Good Neighbor” people denied coverage on Lott’s claim, as well as the claims of tens thousands of other homeowners. State Farm claimed Lott’s home, and the other homes, were actually damaged by flooding, a non-covered risk under the policies Lott filed suit, litigated the case over a year, and only recently settled. That experience caused Lott to re-think his allegiance to insurance companies. He has now concluded that the insurance industry needs some reforms[gasp!!!]. To quote Senator Lott: “I’m like a woman scorned. I’m prepared to to continue to kick their fanny until the last day I’m alive on this Earth because they have mistreated too many people.” Better late than never Senator.

HOW LOW CAN PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE GO? - Mark P. Loftus

By duda • September 26, 2025
Pretty low, if the allegations made by an Atlanta couple prove to be true. Bill and Leandra Pitts, the couple in question, were injured in a 2004 auto accident. According to an recent article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the insurance company involved, Progressive Insurance, established a new low while “investigating” the claims made by Mr. and Mrs. Pitts. According to the article, investigators for Progressive snuck into the Pitts’ church in August of 2005, posing as prospective members. Then they slimed their way into a private confessional meeting at a church member’s home, hoping to overhear a damaging admission from the Pitts about the auto case. After the Pitts learned of Progressive’s tactics, they filed a lawsuit claiming invasion of privacy and fraud. Progressive’s President and CEO, Glenn Renwick issued a statement acknowledging that the story appeared to have merit and apologizing for the actions of the investigators. Interestingly, Renwick’s statement didn’t mention what disciplinary action, if any, were taken against the investigators in question.

CHICAGO HEAVYWEIGHT BEING SUED - Mark P. Loftus

By duda • September 26, 2025
According to a recent article in the Chicago Sun-Times, the next fight for Chicago heavyweight Andrew Golota might take place in a Chicago courtroom. Golota is being sued by a Chicago woman after a traffic accident in April, 2007. The woman, Juliet Mendez, is claiming that Golota blew a stop sign and slammed into her car. The lawsuit claims that Mendez suffered permanent injuries to her back and neck. Golota’s wife, attorney Mariola Golota, claimed that the accident was a simple fender bender. According to the Sun-Times article, no ambulance was called to the scene, and the accident report referred only to property damage.

LORD OF THE DANCE STAR PREVAILS AFTER RAPE ACCUSATION - Mark P. Loftus

By duda • September 26, 2025
According to a recent Chicago Sun-Times article by Bill Bird, Michael Flatley, the Irish dancer, also known as the Lord of the Dance, has prevailed in his lawsuit against a Joliet woman and her attorney. The woman, Tyna M. Robertson had accused Flatley of raping her in Las Vegas in October of 2002. No criminal charges were ever filed. Some five months later, Robertson filed a lawsuit against Flatley in Lake County, Illinois, seeking $35 million dollars in damages. Dean Mauro acted as her attorney. Mauro directed a letter to Flatley demanding millions of dollars to settle the case and accused Flatley of rape. Flatley then countersued Mauro and Robertson for extortion and defamation. The case was concluded several weeks ago, with Mauro paying Flatley more than $400,000. A default judgment has been entered against Robertson. Robertson subsequently had a son with Chicago Bears star linebacker Brian Urlacher and was involved in litigation involving visitation rights in October of 2006.

ILLINOIS TEEN SETTLES WITH POLICE AFTER GETTING TASERED - Mark P. Loftus

By duda • September 26, 2025
A south suburban teenager, Travis Alexander, has agreed to settle his lawsuit against a south suburban Chicago Police Department. Alexander sued the Riverdale Police Department after he was tasered and attacked by a police dog. Alexander was 17 at the time of the incident. He and a friend were walking home from a store when they were stopped by a police officer. The police maintained they had received a tip that Alexander’s friend was involved in a drug deal. Alexander and his friend ran, claiming that they were scared of the Police. Alexander was only two doors from his house when caught. He was then handcuffed and tasered. In addition, the plaintiff alleged that the police allowed a German Shepherd Police dog to attack Alexander, causing him injuries on the leg and head. Although no contraband was found on Alexander, he was charged with resisting arrest and trespassing. He was ultimately exonerated of those charges. As a result of the incident, Alexander suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. The Riverdale Police department agreed to pay Alexander $345,000 to dismiss the case.

MORE DETAILS ON CHICAGO PRIEST ACCUSED OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT - Mark P. Loftus

By duda • September 26, 2025
More details are emerging about precisely how early Church authorities were aware of alleged sexual misconduct on the part of Rev. Donald J. McGuire. McGuire was a teacher at Loyola Academy in the late 1960’s. In 1969, Rev. Charles Schlax contacted the the president of Loyola, Rev. John Reinke, to complain about McGuire. A young man had complained to Fr. Schlax that McGuire was a “pervert”. The youth had apparently been staying at Loyola for as much as a week at a time, including nights. Schlax had requested an investigation into McGuire. Shortly thereafter McGuire was informed he was going to take a sabbatical. Then in 2000, several families who had sons working as aides to McGuire expressed more concern about McGuire’s behavior. One family reported that their son told them McGuire was overwhelming him with pornography and sexual discussions. Another family complained that McGuire was pressuring their son to avoid college, family and friends – and instead spend more time with McGuire. McGuire apparently encouraged the kid to sleep on the floor in his room, or in his bed. Shockingly, McGuire’s superiors have indicated as recently as 2005 that they had no knowledge of McGuire’s proclivities. Turns out they had plenty of notice and allowed this guy to terrorize kids for 40 years.