I became a licensed Illinois attorney 29 years ago. My first job was at an insurance defense firm that also occasionally represented injured workers. It was not a great place to work, but it was great training on how to handle cases, and it helped me realize that I never want to fight for insurance companies. I also learned a lot of inside information that has been valuable in advising injured workers.
I did not realize it at the time, as I was young and naive, but this firm did not take the cases of injured workers seriously, and really only cared about the insurance company cases. I should have figured that out when they gave me my first trial assignment.
I had shadowed other attorneys on their trials, but I was going to do this case alone. I was representing a worker who had done repetitive activities for years and had bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The case was denied because the insurance company had an IME that said his problems were not work related.
I could not have possibly been more prepared for the trial, except for my lack of experience. I knew his medical records and job description like the back of my hand and had written out all of my questions. I went over these questions with this worker before the trial and had a list of questions that he should be prepared to answer from the defense attorney.
I do not drink coffee or really any caffeine, but man was I hyped and excited. I really wanted to do well for this guy and felt clearly that we would win as the law and the facts were on our side. Yes they had an IME in their favor, but my boss told me that doctor was known as a hack and hired gun.
The Arbitrator on the case was old and mean. I had watched some of his other trials and he loved to yell at people. Just a miserable guy. The defense attorney was old and friendly. He could not have been kinder to me when we talked in the hallway about the case.
When I walked into the courtroom, I realized in about two minutes that I was going to lose this case. The very mean Arbitrator could not have been any nicer to the defense attorney. They were yucking it up and talking about their wives. As soon as the court reporter came in, he acted serious, but I could tell that I had no chance. They were friends and nothing I could do would win this case.
I still did my best and the defense attorney asked hardly any questions. A few weeks later the decision came in the mail and we had lost. I remember that we filed an appeal, but I do not know what happened with that as I was soon on to a new and better job.
Things are not as shady at the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission now as they were back then. Not saying this couldn’t happen today, but if it did I do not think the Arbitrator would be so obvious about it. There was just no way he going to give a victory to a first year lawyer over his friend.
Had my experienced boss taken this case to trial, our client would have gotten a fair shot. It is pretty shameful that he sold out our client like that and I was not surprised that years later he got in trouble with the disciplinary board for attorneys for inappropriate behavior.
The lesson for any injured worker now is to beware these law firms that hire very young attorneys and throw them into the fire so quickly. You do not want any attorney to be trained on how to handle a case by working on yours. You deserve an experienced lawyer in your corner who has gone to trial numerous times and handled thousands of cases. This gives you the best chance of success.
We do not guarantee anyone a result, but do promise that any attorney in our state wide network will be both experienced and a fighter. We will do whatever we can to get the best result possible and you will never lose because of lack of experience.
