Secured Approval of Helipad After Hearings With Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and Lawsuit in Cook County

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) approved the operation of a life-saving helipad atop the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, Children’s Memorial Hospital’s new facility.  The helipad was a contentious issue for some residents of the neighborhood where the new hospital was built.  Both sides presented countless arguments for or opposed to the helipad.  Alan Farkas was retained to advise and guide Children’s Memorial Hospital in its efforts to obtain approval to operate the helipad at its new facility.  Alan retained top notch experts in their fields, worked closely with those experts in their evaluations and contributions, and represented the hospital at four days of public hearings in 2009 and two days of public hearings in 2011.  He also worked closely with the helipad’s design team to ensure that the proposed heliport would exceed all application regulations and standards.  Additionally, Alan was tasked with the submission of various materials on behalf of the hospital.  The approval of the helipad was the subject of a series of administrative hearings before the Illinois Department of Transportation, and later, a lawsuit in the Circuit Court of Cook County.  The lawsuit was dismissed soon after we defeated the bid for an injunction.