CHICAGO (October 21, 2026) – Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard attorneys Patrick A. Salvi II, Lance D. Northcutt, Patrick A. Salvi Sr., David J. Rashid and Kristen M. Stoicescu received a “Trial Lawyer Excellence Award” from the Jury Verdict Reporter, a division of Law Bulletin Media, for obtaining the “Highest Reported Illinois Verdict or Settlement since 2025 JVR Awards.” The award was presented to the team at an invitation-only reception on Tuesday, October 20 at RPM Events.
In February 2026, a Madison County jury awarded $241 million to the family of Eric Johnson, a 64-year-old courier who died after being exposed to dangerous levels of carbon dioxide while transporting dry ice for work. The case arose from an incident on August 5, 2016, when Mr. Johnson was hired by CJS Express to transport four coolers of frozen strawberries packed with dry ice from a Prairie Farms Dairy subsidiary’s facility in St. Charles, Missouri, to Fayetteville, Arkansas. An employee loaded the coolers into Mr. Johnson’s vehicle. Approximately 90 minutes into the trip, Mr. Johnson was found unconscious behind the wheel of his vehicle. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he died three days later.
Mr. Johnson is survived by his wife of 42 years and five adult children, including two disabled children who relied on him for daily support. Following his death, his wife was forced to close her sewing business to devote herself to running the family business and caring for their children. The lawsuit alleged that Prairie Farms Dairy and its subsidiary knew the dangers associated with transporting dry ice, which is the solid form of carbon dioxide, but failed to provide Mr. Johnson with appropriate warnings, training or safety protocols. During trial, evidence showed that Prairie Farms was responsible for safety protocols at PFD Supply and had previously been cited for violations of OSHA’s hazard communication requirements, including requirements related to dangerous chemicals. The evidence also showed that the company had not implemented a proper hazard communication program addressing the hazards of dry ice, despite those citations and Mr. Johnson’s death.
The trial began on February 19, 2026, in Madison County Circuit Court before the Honorable Dennis Ruth. The jury returned its verdict on February 27, 2026, awarding $49.5 million in compensatory damages and $191.5 million in punitive damages, totaling $241 million. Mr. Johnson’s family was represented at trial by Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard attorneys Patrick A. Salvi II, Lance D. Northcutt, Patrick A. Salvi Sr., David J. Rashid and Kristen M. Stoicescu.
For more information, please contact Marcie Mangan at (877) 823-1433 or mmangan@salvilaw.com.
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