U. of C. reaches $10M settlement in James Tyree's death

U. of C. reaches $10M settlement in James Tyree's death


James Tyree, in a 2009 photo, was the head of Mesirow Financial and owned the Sun-Times at the time of his death. (Brian Cassella/Tribune file / April 23, 2012)
 By Becky Yerak
Tribune reporter
10:47 a.m. CDT, April 23, 2012

A $10 million settlement related to the death of former Chicago Sun-Times owner James Tyree has been reached between his estate and the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he died in March 2011 partly due to a medical error.

Court records also mention an additional "gift agreement," though its details couldn't immediately be learned.

The medical center didn't have an immediate comment. Lawyers from Katten Muchin Rosenman, which is representing the Tyree estate, couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

Tyree, also chief executive of Chicago-based Mesirow Financial, had been seriously ill with stomach cancer, but the Cook County medical examiner ruled his death an accident, due to the improper removal of a catheter during a routine procedure at the center.

The estate has "alleged negligence" by the medical center and its employees "related to the treatment and has presented claims seeking damages related to injuries sustained and suffered by the decendent that allegedly resulted in his death," court documents state.

Of $5 million of the $10 million, half will be paid to his widow, Eve Tyree, and the rest divided equally among his three children, court records show.

The remaining $5 million will be made in "periodic payments": about $515,000 a year to Eve Tyree for five years beginning May 15, 2013, and $171,667 to each of the estates of the couple's three children.

The settlement proceeds will be donated to the James C. Tyree Charitable Foundation, the court documents show.

"The foundation and the University of Chicago Medical Center agree to enter into an execute the Gift Agreement," the court filing said.

The medical center signed the settlement without admitting fault. The agreement also includes a "non-disparagement" clause, stating that neither party may make disparaging remarks about the other.

The court approved the agreement March 27 pending the appointment of Eve Tyree as the guardian for her children's estate. That matter is scheduled to be heard May 1.


http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-u-of-c-reaches-10m-settlement-in-james-tyrees-death-20120423,0,6102027.story

Editor's note:  So you think that Mrs. Tyree will have the same problems with guardianship as "us victims"?  Lucius Verenus, Schoolmaster, ProbateSharks.com