Chicago Injury Attorneys BlogGolfing for a good cause!
This past weekend Katz Friedman Attorneys proudly participated in UAW Region 4’s Annual Charity Golf Outing which supported Public Action To Deliver Shelter!
Articles Posted in Press Releases
UPS, Teamsters negotiators agree to higher wages, potential Sunday delivery
UPS reached a tentative five-year contract with the Teamsters union that includes pay increases and could pave the way for Sunday delivery.
The Teamsters confirmed negotiators reached an agreement that would raise the minimum wage for….click here to read the full article via USA TODAY!
Katz Friedman Law offices filed a lawsuit for 38 Ebony magazine freelancers claiming unpaid wages
“They had contracts to provide content or services, did that, and weren’t paid.”
– Joshua File, Katz Friedman Attorney
This week Katz Friedman Law office filed a lawsuit for a group of 38 Ebony magazine freelancers in Cook County Circuit Court, claiming they are collectively owed more than $70,000 for their work.
RUMOR: UNITED AIRLINES TO REPLACE ITS’ WORK COMP. ADMINISTRATOR GALLAGHER BASSETT
United Airlines (UAL) employees are talking and social media chat rooms are buzzing about the potential change in workers’ compensation administrators. For about 20 years Gallagher Bassett has been administrating the claims for benefits due to occupational injuries also known as “occupationals”, “OJI” or workers’ compensation injuries. Typically, an administrator provides claims adjustment services that include the investigation and processing of injury claims and payment of weekly workers’ compensation income benefits known as temporary total disability (TTD) and authorization for medical procedures and payment of medical bills. The administrator may also, at times, negotiate settlements after the injured worker has been released from doctor’s care.
There does not appear to have been a formal notice or press release confirming that United Airlines is replacing Gallagher Bassett. There has been speculation that this may occur October 1, 2017 and that the new claims administrator will be Sedgwick Claims Management Services.
Helpful Advice for the Injured Worker
KATZ FRIEDMAN ATTORNEYS SECURE TWO RECENT TRIAL VICTORIES FOR INJURED TEACHING PROFESSIONALS
Safety remains an important issue for teachers, teacher’s assistants and school workers. Numerous injuries occur while teachers and school employees strive to instruct and provide for the safety and well-being of students. Although the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act is a law set up to benefit and provide relief for the injured worker, skilled workers’ compensation attorneys familiar and experienced with school related injuries are frequently needed to ensure the injureds’ rights are protected. Katz, Friedman, one of the few law firms, approved by the Illinois Education Association (IEA) to handle work injures on behalf of its members has successfully represented the injured throughout Illinois including employees of Elgin’s School District U-46, Rockford School District No. 205, St. Charles Community Unit School District No. 303, and many more. We are proud to report two recent trial victories on behalf of injured teaching professionals.
In the first case, the injured, a physical education teacher, suffered an injury while teaching her class. The teacher was demonstrating stretches and exercises to her students when she injured her back. The teacher sought medical treatment immediately and was given work restrictions by her doctor. The school district stated that they could not accommodate her restrictions and would not allow her to return to work. The school district also refused to pay her off work benefits, pay for her continued medical treatment and refused to allow her to come back to work in any capacity until all of her restrictions were removed. The school district based their denial of workers compensation benefits on the notion that “demonstrating exercises to students was not an essential function of a PE teacher’s job duties.” The school district’s refusal to allow the teacher to return to work lasted five months. During this time, the injured teacher did not receive any off work benefits as provided under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act. Katz Friedman attorneys fought for the injured teacher at trial before the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. The Arbitrator ruled in favor of the teacher and agreed with all of Katz Friedman’s trial arguments. The injured teacher was awarded full off work benefits, payment of all medical bills including repayment of her out-of-pocket medical expenses of over $1,000.00 and a substantial award for the permanent partial disability caused by the back injury.
In the second case, Katz Friedman attorneys received a favorable trial decision where a special education teacher’s assistant sustained a concussion after a student punched her in the head. The trial award was five times greater than the amount offered for settlement by the school district. At trial, the school district attempted to minimize the injured teacher’s assistant’s symptoms claiming they were not related to the concussion injury. The school district’s argument was supported by a doctor they retained for the litigation. Katz Friedman attorneys were successful in convincing the Arbitrator that the medical evidence and treating doctor’s opinions were more credible than the doctor retained by the school district. Although there is still time for the school district to appeal this very recent decision, Katz Friedman attorneys remain confident that the results will be upheld.
Attorney Jason Carroll leads a team to the top of the Presidential Towers in the American Lung Association’s Fight for Air Climb
For the fifth consecutive year Attorney
Jason Carroll led team Party ROC!!! in the American Lung Association‘s Fight for Air Climb at the Presidential Towers in Chicago.
The Fight For Air Climb is a unique fundraising event for the American Lung Association and the donations raised support research, education and patient programs to help the millions of Americans impacted by asthma, COPD, lung cancer, air pollution and other lung diseases.
Phil Bareck, Stanley Eisenstein, & Richard Johnson Honored as Best Lawyers
The attorneys of Katz Friedman are proud of our reputation for providing consistent legal representation to clients throughout Illinois. We’re proud to announce that Best Lawyers has recognized three of our lawyers for their accomplishments. Being chosen for inclusion in Best Lawyers rankings is an honor bestowed upon a select group of lawyers. This year, Best Lawyers has recognized the efforts of Richard Johnson, Phil Bareck, and Stanley Eisenstein with these distinguished awards.
Richard Johnson has been honored as 2016’s Lawyer of the Year for Workers’ Compensation Law for claimants. Mr. Johnson joined Katz Friedman in 1983. Since then, he’s worked to establish the rights of injured workers in many precedent setting cases before the Illinois Supreme Court. Mr. Johnson’s knowledge and efforts are highly regarded by his peers.
“Workers have rights, and they need a strong advocate to help protect those rights. I’ve dedicated my career to enhancing employee protections within the workplace and I look forward to continuing my efforts,” commented Chicago workers’ compensation attorney Richard Johnson.
Chicago Auto Accident Lawyer Offers Praise for Emergency Braking Initiative
Following an announcement by twenty automakers, the auto accident lawyers at Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca are hailing the initiative as one of the biggest breakthroughs in automotive safety in recent memory.
Recently, twenty major car manufacturers announced a voluntary initiative to equip new vehicles with automatic emergency braking systems by 2022. The systems are specifically designed to prevent auto accidents without input from the driver of the vehicle. Chicago car accident lawyers are offering praise for the initiative, which was signed on to by General Motors, Ford, Fiat, and many other automakers.
Along with auto accident lawyers across the nation, the insurance industry and the US Department of Transportation are pleased with the commitment to have automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems as the standard in the auto industry. The agreement was reached due to the efforts of insurance providers, the Department of Transportation, and automakers working together to craft a feasible path for introducing the safety measure. AEB systems employ a variety of sensors, including radar, to detect impending crashes. If a crash appears to be imminent, the system engages the brakes in an attempt to avoid the collision, or minimize the impact if it cannot be avoided.
Know Your Rights in the Case of an Aviation Accident
An Air Passenger’s Rights
Individuals board a plane without the knowledge of the rights that they have. In the event of an unexpected air crash, it pays to know what legal actions can be done in order to keep a passenger protected in court. One should know the necessary airline injury compensation that he or she can acquire in case an unforeseen incident happens.
Aviation Accidents
Dangerous Jobs: CTA Workers Health & Safety at Risk
Chicago’s network of trains connects millions of workers with their jobs, and families with their homes each month. Keeping this system up and running is the responsibility of the Chicago Transit Authority and the army of workers they employ.
It is a dangerous job which places workers health and safety at risk. Just a few weeks ago, a worker fell from a ladder within a tunnel near the North/Clybourn Station. While serious, he was fortunate his injuries were not fatal.
“Public transit workers face a variety of risks every day. They can slip from icy platforms, fall onto the electrified 3rd rail, or find themselves in the path of an oncoming train. From 2004 to 2009, 19 CTA employees lost their lives simply by doing their jobs,” remarkedChicago workers’ compensation attorney Phil Bareck.