Cook Illinois Jury Instruction — 7.7.1 GeneraInstructionio— - Comparative Negligence Defense provides guidance regarding the defense of comparative negligence in personal injury cases. This jury instruction is specifically tailored to be used in Cook County, Illinois courts. Here is a detailed description of this instruction and its potential variations: 1. Cook Illinois Jury Instruction — 7.7.1 GeneraInstructionio— - Comparative Negligence Defense: — This instruction outlines the concept of comparative negligence, which is a legal defense used in personal injury cases to argue that the plaintiff's own negligence contributed to the accident or injuries sustained. — It explains that if the plaintiff is determined to be partially at fault for their injuries, their potential recovery of damages may be reduced proportionally to their share of fault. — The instruction guides the jury on how to assess and apportion fault between the plaintiff and the defendant, considering several factors such as the degree of negligence, causation, and contribution to the incident. — It stresses that even if the plaintiff is found to be partially at fault, they may still recover damages as long as their negligence is not greater than the combined negligence of all defendants involved. — This instruction ensures that the jury understands the legal principle of comparative negligence and provides them with a framework to properly evaluate the plaintiff's claim. Possible variations of Cook Illinois Jury Instruction — 7.7.1 GeneraInstructionio— - Comparative Negligence Defense: 1. Cook Illinois Jury Instruction — 7.7.1.1 Modified Comparative Negligence Defense: — This variation of the instruction may introduce the concept of modified comparative negligence, which applies a threshold or "51% bar" rule. If the plaintiff's negligence is found to exceed this threshold, they may be barred from recovering any damages. — It elaborates on the specific rules and requirements for applying the modified comparative negligence defense in Cook County, Illinois courts. 2. Cook Illinois Jury Instruction — 7.7.1.2 Pure Comparative Negligence Defense: — This variation may delve into the application of pure comparative negligence, which allows the plaintiff to recover damages regardless of their degree of fault. The amount of damages awarded will be proportionally reduced based on their share of negligence. — It highlights the differences between pure comparative negligence and modified comparative negligence, emphasizing the impact on potential compensation for the plaintiff. 3. Cook Illinois Jury Instruction — 7.7.1.3 Comparative Negligence Defense in Product Liability Cases: — This variation may specifically address the application of comparative negligence in product liability lawsuits, where the plaintiff alleges injuries resulted from a defective product. — It may provide additional instructions or modifications to the standard comparative negligence defense to account for the unique elements and theories involved in product liability cases. In summary, Cook Illinois Jury Instruction — 7.7.1 GeneraInstructionio— - Comparative Negligence Defense is a comprehensive guideline used in Cook County, Illinois courts to instruct the jury on the concept of comparative negligence and its application in personal injury cases. Variations of this instruction may exist to address different scenarios, such as modified or pure comparative negligence, as well as specific applications in product liability lawsuits.