When wrongful conduct causes a person’s death, Illinois law provides a cause of action for damages against the wrongdoer. The claim — a wrongful-death claim — normally benefits the close family of the person who died. When a wrongful-death claim is filed, the law requires one representative, rather than every beneficiary, to be named on the lawsuit as the plaintiff-representative. This representative prosecutes the claim against the alleged wrongdoer. If a claim is successful, the next step is to …