20 IRISH AMERICAN NEWS June 2008Celtic Kitchen-Pure and SimpleBy Julianna LeberDuring my first trip to Ireland in1996, while looking for a student job,I managed to enjoy one <strong>of</strong> the manyevolving aspects <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Irish</strong> culture<strong>of</strong> that time: pub grub. <strong>This</strong> phrase<strong>of</strong> pub grub for many years was seenas a quick plate <strong>of</strong> sandwiches or theobligatory fish and chips. In someplaces, <strong>Irish</strong> lamb stew or shepherd’spie was on the stove for the day andserved en masse. However with therush <strong>of</strong> the Celtic Tiger, the economicand social boom <strong>of</strong> the 90’s until now,expectations in the modern <strong>Irish</strong>society ushered in the emergence<strong>of</strong> all things new and updated, if notcompletely revolutionary. That greatrevolution included the tradition <strong>of</strong><strong>Irish</strong> food.Great chefs <strong>of</strong> Europe look to newlands to find their inspiration or possiblynew places to impart their skillsand knowledge. As Ireland beganreinventing herself, some <strong>of</strong> thesechefs saw an amazing heritage <strong>of</strong> foodculture that needed updating and yetnot harsh interference. Young <strong>Irish</strong>chefs, who trained locally and thenwent abroad for further experience,returned with new inspiration forthe food they grew up with. Both theinternational and young <strong>Irish</strong> chefsknew that traditional <strong>Irish</strong> food was acornerstone to the <strong>Irish</strong> heritage andthat they were not going to mess withsuccess, just update the plate.From Dublin to Cork, Waterfordto Galway, restaurants and pubs beganto look at and become inspiredby the new culinary trends coming into the country. Restaurant proprietorsbegan searching for fresh new talentto liven up their stand-by menus. Pubowners watched the larger businessesfor ideas and inspiration and alsobegan to redesign their <strong>of</strong>ferings.The common thread throughout the<strong>Irish</strong> culinary community was tohold on to what makes traditional<strong>Irish</strong> food so unique: locally farmedbeef, pork and lamb, freshly caughtseafood, regional farmhouse cheeses,and preparing fruits and vegetablesaccording to their specific seasons.With these few guidelines alongwith time-honored preparation techniques,the new <strong>Irish</strong> chef set out andrecreated pub grub into a modernculinary experience.As the new <strong>Irish</strong> chef began t<strong>of</strong>orge a path in culinary history,the other European chefs began tonot only revisit the possibilities <strong>of</strong>Ireland, but took stock in its talent.Euro-toques is a group <strong>of</strong> Europeanchefs who believe in local talent andproduct from around Europe. The<strong>Irish</strong> group is numbered in the hundredsand the members all subscribeto the belief that food needs to exhibitthe strength <strong>of</strong> the regional sources,not only from organic farms but theenthusiastic cooking talent itself.The creative culinary process and notmassive production is their mantra.<strong>This</strong> group (<strong>of</strong> which Darina Allenfrom Ballymaloe Cookery School is amember) is paramount for <strong>Irish</strong> recognitionon the international level.Breaking it down to the basicsthough, it still about good food servedat the town local. By taking traditional,regional foods and modernizingBroiled salmon with summer vegetablesand lemon sauce in potato boxtyServes 66 salmon filets, 4 oz each1 red pepper, cut into long strips andthen cut crosswise1 each yellow squash and zucchini,cut into 1 / 4 in rounds8 oz sliced white mushrooms1 onion, sliced through root to end,and then thin slices1 lemon, cut in two4 T. butter2 - 3 T. olive oilthe dish, even slightly, it guaranteeslongevity through a casual reintroductionto the Tiger’s table.The recipe I’ve included, broiledsalmon with summer vegetables andlemon sauce in potato boxty, is adetailed, medium skilled recipe. Inthe end, it really is an elegant dish toserve dinner guests. One tip, practicethe boxty before the party. At first try,they can be a challenge when achievingproper thickness.*Julianna Leber is a graduate <strong>of</strong>Ballymaloe Cookery School, Co.Cork, Ireland and the University<strong>of</strong> Akron. E-mail: Julileber@hotmail.com1 / 4 c. dry white wine2 c. whole milk1 T. flour2 tsp. dried dillSalt and pepper3 c. mashed potatoes3 medium size potatoes, scrubbedclean2 - 3 T. flour2 eggsVegetable oilCarefully grate the potatoes (skinson, if you wish) and put the potatointo a bowl <strong>of</strong> room temp water. Setaside. Turn oven to 350F. Put salmonon cookie sheet lined with foil. Drizzlewith olive oil, salt, pepper, and squeeze1 / 2 lemon on top. Put in oven untildone and flaky, 20 minutes.Place zucchini and yellow squash ina pot <strong>of</strong> salted, simmering water untiljust tender, approx 4-5 minutes. Drain.In large skillet on med, melt 2 T. butterand add oil. Toss in onion, and stir untils<strong>of</strong>t. Add mushrooms and stir, another3-4 minutes. Add red pepper and stir.Add wine, lemon, and 2 T butter. Letsteam for a couple minutes. Sprinkle1 T. flour and stir in. Slowly add milkand stir to incorporate (may need alittle more to thin). Add squash andcarefully stir. Sprinkle with dill, saltand pepper to taste. Cover with lid andset on very low.In large bowl, combine mashedpotatoes and drained grated potato.Season with salt and pepper. Addflour and eggs, mixing thoroughly.The right consistency will enable youto ladle the batter into the pan. Toothick, add a little milk. Too thin, addflour. Heat a large skillet and add 1 T.oil. Pour by ladle and spread aroundpan, but not too thin. Carefully, testthe edges by lifting around. If itbreaks apart, thin with milk or anotheregg. Flip and let cook for another2-3 minutes or until crisp. Place onwarming plate or in oven. Continuewith the rest <strong>of</strong> the batter.To assemble: Place boxty in center<strong>of</strong> plate, spoon veggie mixture ontohalf <strong>of</strong> potato, then place salmon ontop. Flip other half over and servewith light salad. Brilliant!!
June 2008 IRISH AMERICAN NEWS 21Healy LawMartin J. Healy, Jr.Senior Partner<strong>This</strong> is the next <strong>of</strong> a series <strong>of</strong> columns on how the law can impact your life. Eachmonth we will focus on various aspects <strong>of</strong> the law relating to personal injuries,those that happen both on-the-job and otherwise, including mishaps which occurin driving vehicles, using products and receiving medical care. The column willalso respond to legal questions relating to personal injury that are sent to us.The Healy Law Firm is comprised <strong>of</strong> eight trial attorneys, two <strong>of</strong> whom are fromIreland. We are located downtown at 111 West Washington Street, Suite 1425, Chicago,Illinois 60602 (800-922-4500 or 312-977-0100). www.HealyLawFirm.com. The firmconcentrates in the representation <strong>of</strong> injured victims <strong>of</strong> all types <strong>of</strong> accidents.Readers are encouraged to call or write with questions concerningpersonal injury law.How the Pleasure <strong>of</strong> SwimmingCan Turn Into a Life Changing EventBy Jack CannonIn July <strong>of</strong> 2001 I was on trial representinga man from County Clare whohad been seriously injured in a highspeed auto accident on I-55. Trialsdemand a lot <strong>of</strong> time. It’s not unusualto work sixteen to eighteen hours aday either in the courtroom itself orpreparing for the following day. Trialsdemand 100 percent focus whichmakes it difficult to handle anythingelse other than trial at that particularpoint in time.Three days into the trial I receiveda call from an old construction friend<strong>of</strong> mine from Derry. My friend told methat a friend <strong>of</strong> his had been paralyzedin a swimming pool accident on thesouth side. He informed me that theman was a 22-year-old carpenter fromDerry who dove into a swimming pooland broke his neck. He underwentemergency surgery and was shippedhome to Ireland within a few days.It was unusual that I would takea phone call during trial, let alonedevote attention to a possible new case.However, our firm has a long history<strong>of</strong> representing <strong>Irish</strong> individuals. <strong>This</strong>gentleman suffered a devastatinginjury and would need all the helphe could get. We decided to look atthe case.Starting out, I was aware thatthere was some case law consideredunfavorable on swimming pool cases.Some <strong>of</strong> these cases say that bodies <strong>of</strong>water represent an open and obviousdanger and that anyone injured fromdiving into an open body <strong>of</strong> wateris essentially out <strong>of</strong> luck under thelaw. Nevertheless, I decided to lookinto it.I immediately contacted our investigator.I sent him out to the scene <strong>of</strong>the accident to see what he could learn.In addition, I asked my friend to helpme locate witnesses that we couldinterview regarding the case.Meanwhile over the next couple <strong>of</strong>days, I continued with the trial <strong>of</strong> theman from Clare. During breaks in thetrial, I was receiving calls from myinvestigator and my friend, providingup-to-date information.We quickly learned that our potentialclient had broken his neck and wasparalyzed from the breast bone down.We also learned that the pool that hedove into had a highly unusual configuration.It was six feet deep, withshallow step entry stairs going acrossthe entire width <strong>of</strong> one end <strong>of</strong> the pool.The opposite end had a narrow deepend ladder in the corner. Unfortunately,the deep end ladder in the corner wasin 2½ feet <strong>of</strong> water. The actual “deepend” was in the middle <strong>of</strong> the pool!We set up a meeting on the Fridaynight with the witnesses. They confirmedthe unusual configuration <strong>of</strong>the pool. They advised me that theyhad been with my potential injuredclient for only a couple <strong>of</strong> hours thatnight. They stated that he was soberat the time <strong>of</strong> injury and that he hadnever been in this particular poolbefore. Later on that evening I metwith our investigator who providedphotographs <strong>of</strong> the pool. The photosconfirmed the deep end ladder in theshallow end. Based on the description<strong>of</strong> the witnesses and the photographs,we felt that there was something to g<strong>of</strong>orward on.I spent all Saturday and Sundaythat weekend working on the Clareman’s trial. When I got home Sundayevening, my wife informed me that shehad recorded a 60 Minutes Programthat I might want to take a look at. The60 Minutes Program was about theepidemic <strong>of</strong> swimming pool injuries inthis country. The program highlightedthe lack <strong>of</strong> governance by the swimmingpool industry <strong>of</strong> their product. Inshort, the theme <strong>of</strong> the program saidthat the swimming pool industry hadvery loose guidelines regarding thedesigns <strong>of</strong> the pools even though theyknew or were aware that hundreds <strong>of</strong>individuals had suffered devastatinginjuries. The 60 Minutes piece focusedon a case in the State <strong>of</strong> Washingtonwhere the regulatory body for theswimming pool industry was foundliable in a case where a young individualbeen paralyzed. The programidentified studies which showed thatthe typical person injured in a swimmingpool case was male, white andbetween the ages <strong>of</strong> 18 and 25. Quite<strong>of</strong>ten there was alcohol involved in thecase. Our case fit the prototype.Based on the program, I was ableto identify an expert who I thoughtmight be helpful in our case. On theMonday, we contacted the expert. Wedescribed for him the design <strong>of</strong> theswimming pool. He agreed, based onour description, that the pool appearedto violate the standard set forth bythe National Spa and Pool Industry(NSPI). My expert informed me thatmost swimming pool installers andalmost all <strong>of</strong> the swimming pool linermanufacturers were members <strong>of</strong> NSPI.They were aware <strong>of</strong> NSPI and shouldhave known whether or not the poolthey designed met with the nationalstandards.Based on the evidence, The HealyLaw Firm filed suit in the Circuit Court<strong>of</strong> Cook County. In the meantime, wewere learning more about our newclient. He was a 22-year-old carpenterfrom Derry. He had been in Chicag<strong>of</strong>or approximately one year. He livedon the south side. He had never beenin a pool in the United States. He dovetoward the deep end ladder. He dovehorizontally over the water, rather thanat a deep angle. He told us he thoughthe was diving into the deep end. Heactually dove into 2½ feet <strong>of</strong> water.The impact snapped his neck.When the client arrived at one <strong>of</strong>our local hospitals, he had to informthe hospital staff that he was uninsured.<strong>This</strong> was not taken kindly. Withina week, a row <strong>of</strong> seats was strippedout <strong>of</strong> an Aer Lingus plane, the clientwas strapped in and shipped hometo his parents. He described a long,bumpy, painful ride in the ambulancefrom Dublin Airport all the way backto Belfast, where he continued hishospitalization.Upon arriving in Belfast at MusgravePark Hospital, the client wasexamined by a local doctor. They toldhim he would never walk again.In reviewing the status <strong>of</strong> the caselaw, we confirmed that in many swimmingpool cases, Illinois courts havefound no liability, ruling that a personwho jumps into an open body <strong>of</strong> watershould be aware <strong>of</strong> an “open andobvious danger.” However, there wereexceptions in cases where there wasa design defect in the product itself.Based on what we knew from talkingto our investigator, the witnesses, theclient and now the swimming pool expert,it appeared that the case fell intoa design defect category. We beganto take depositions <strong>of</strong> the numerouspersonnel <strong>of</strong> both the contractor, theswimming pool liner manufacturerand others as well as witnesses.In every civil lawsuit filed thereis a “discovery” phase in which theparties take depositions <strong>of</strong> potentialwitnesses in a case. During the course<strong>of</strong> discovery each side is obliged to, ineffect, “show the other side their cards.”Once “all the cards have been shown”and the discovery has been completed,a defendant will typically file a motionfor summary judgment. The motionfor summary judgment essentially saysthat even if everything the plaintiffsays is true, there is no basis underthe law for this case to go forward.Therefore it should be dismissed. Intalking to the defendants I learned, asI suspected, they felt they had a shot ontheir motion for summary judgment.The depositions <strong>of</strong> the personnel <strong>of</strong> themanufacturers and contractors wouldbe critical in terms <strong>of</strong> what they knewabout the NSPI standards and whenthey knew it. We quickly learned thatthey knew little to nothing about theNSPI standards. The supervisor forthe design department <strong>of</strong> the linermanufacturer confirmed that the poolhad seven (7) design defects underthe national standards. Despite thisfact, the liner manufacturer issueda manual and warning signs whichstated that the pool met the “NationalSpa and Pool Institute standards.” <strong>This</strong>was not true.On May 17, 2006, after three hours<strong>of</strong> oral argument, a judge in the CircuitCourt <strong>of</strong> Cook County granted thedefendant’s motion for summary judgmentwithout explanation. Our <strong>of</strong>fice,believing in the client and believing inthe case, immediately filed an appealto the Appellate Court <strong>of</strong> the State <strong>of</strong>Illinois.Next month – What happened recentlyin the Appellate Court and thefuture for the case.Jack Cannon
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