From Chicago no less.
Hurt man says golfer never yelled 'fore'
December 1, 2006
BY STEVE SCHMADEKE Daily Southtown
While playing a round at a Lemont golf course in August, Edigio "Gino" Berni was struck by an errant ball that left a dent in his head.
The ball hit his left temple.
Law firm's name on ball
In a lawsuit filed Wednesday in Cook County Circuit Court, Berni claims the rude duffer -- who failed to yell "fore" -- was Michael B. Goldberg, one of Chicago's most prominent personal-injury lawyers.
Berni could see Goldberg had hit the shot at Gleneagles Country Club, said his attorney, Mario Palermo.
And his law firm's name -- Goldberg, Weisman and Cairo -- was printed on the ball.
Berni was diagnosed with a concussion after seeking treatment at a Downers Grove hospital the next day, Palermo said. The Westmont construction worker was standing on the fifth hole fairway near his golf cart when he was hit.
"[Goldberg] has a reputation for helping people like Gino," Palermo said. "He hasn't taken responsibility for what he did.
Goldberg denies launching the errant shot.
'I didn't do it': lawyer
"His attorney probably said, 'Oh Goldberg, they're the largest injury firm in the state; they've got deep pockets,'" he said. "This gives lawyers a bad name when they take cases like this. It's embarrassing to my profession.
"I didn't do it. How is he going to prove I did it?" said Goldberg, who was playing in a foursome. "There's golf balls flying everywhere."
Berni completed the round at the SEIU Local 73 event, ate dinner and had some cocktails, Goldberg said. He said Berni told him in the clubhouse later that he was feeling fine.
Palermo didn't dispute that account, but said Berni later developed headaches and blurred vision. He asked Goldberg to settle the dispute, but received no response.
In a recent Illinois case that went to trial, a Lake County jury found that a golfer whose drive hit a woman in the left ankle was not negligent.
Sun-Times News Group
