Chicago Illinois Jury Instruction — 7.7.1 GeneraInstructionio— - Comparative Negligence Defense is an important legal instruction given to jurors during civil trials in Chicago, Illinois. This instruction guides the jury in understanding the concept of comparative negligence defense, which can impact the determination of liability in personal injury cases. Comparative negligence is a legal principle that assigns fault to both the plaintiff and the defendant based on their respective degree of negligence in causing the injury or damages. Under this defense, the jury is instructed to evaluate the actions of both parties and allocate fault accordingly. This instruction aims to ensure a fair and just outcome by considering the contribution of each party to the incident. There are several variations of Chicago Illinois Jury Instruction — 7.7.1 GeneraInstructionio— - Comparative Negligence Defense that may be provided to the jury depending on the specific circumstances of the case. These variations could include: 1. Pure Comparative Negligence: This instruction advises the jury to assign a percentage of fault to each party involved in the incident, regardless of the degree of fault. The final damages awarded to the plaintiff will be reduced by their allocated percentage of fault. 2. Modified Comparative Negligence (50% Bar Rule): This instruction applies when the plaintiff's degree of fault is equal to or greater than the defendant's. In such cases, the plaintiff is barred from recovering damages. However, if the plaintiff's allocated percentage of fault is less than the defendant's, the damages will be reduced accordingly. 3. Modified Comparative Negligence (51% Bar Rule): This instruction is similar to the above, but with a slight difference. If the plaintiff's allocated percentage of fault exceeds 51%, they are barred from recovering damages. However, if their fault is equal to or less than 51%, their damages will be reduced by their allocated percentage. These variations of the comparative negligence defense allow the jury to fairly assess the responsibility of each party involved in the case and determine the appropriate allocation of damages. By considering the relative negligence of both the plaintiff and the defendant, this instruction promotes a more equitable outcome in personal injury disputes in Chicago, Illinois.