QMM hires new Associate Attorney

QMM is pleased to announce the recent hiring of our 5th attorney, Kathleen O'Keefe-Rivera. As our newest associate attorney, she brings with her a wide variety of experience. Ms. O'Keefe-Rivera received her undergraduate degree from Illinois Statue University where she was a Spanish and Political Science major. She spent one semester studying at the University of Seville in Spain. Thereafter, she received her J.D. at The John Marshall Law School in 1993. Initially, out of law school, Ms. O'Keefe-Rivera worked for the Law Office of James O. Stola, concentrating in personal injury, workers' compensation, medical malpractice, family law, and immigration.

Thereafter, she worked at the firm of Shaeen, Lundberg, Callahan & Orr in Chicago, concentrating in family law and personal injury. In 1997, after the birth of triplets, she joined Evans, Loewenstein, Shimanovsky & Moscardini in Chicago, a general practice, concentrating in real estate and bankruptcy law. Thereafter, she became a solo practitioner in 1999, concentrating in real estate and family law, and bankruptcy. She has served thousands of clients around the Bolingbrook area.

Ms. O'Keefe-Rivera comes to QMM as a Bolingbrook resident and one particularly unique attribute - the ability to speak fluent Spanish. With Ms. O'Keefe-Rivera's addition, the firm is able to assist a wider base of clients and reach out to the Hispanic community. Ms. O'Keefe-Rivera will be concentrating in the practice areas of real estate, family law and bankruptcy. She will offer a free initial consultation in these areas for all interested clients.

QMM to sponser "Meet the Candidates Night" in Bolingbrook

Quinn, Meadowcroft & Marker, in conjunction with the Bolingbrook Chamber of Commerce, is proud to sponsor a night to "Meet the Candidates" running for political offices in and around Bolingbrook and Will County. This is a great opportunity for those interested to learn the various platforms of each candidate and/or to ask questions. The event takes place on October 27, 2010 at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites, located at 205 Remington Blvd, Bolingbrook, IL and goes from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m..

Quinn, Meadowcroft & Marker hopes to see a well attended event. If you would like more information, please visit the Bolingbrook chamber of commerce website at: http://www.bolingbrookchamber.org/.

QMM Recent Settlement Update

Below is a Summary of only a few of the Significant Injury Settlements from the firm since March, 2010:

3/25/10 - QMM obtains $304.000.00 - largest settlement to date from the State of Illinois under the Injured Workers' Benefit Fund - for Plaintiff who suffered serious and permanent back injuries.

4/21/10 - QMM obtains over $81,000.00 settlement for injured worker who slipped and fell at work, necessitating a surgery to her spine.

6/22/10 - QMM obtains $200,000.00 settlement for victim of motor vehicle accident who sustained a fractured hip, which necessitated multiple surgical revisions.

6/29/10 - QMM obtains $45,000.00 settlement for Plaintiff involved in a vehicle collision caused by a fallen light pole.

7/26/10 - QMM obtains settlement of over $25,000.00 for worker who sustained back injury moving pallets of heavy objects on the job.

Loans to Help Injured are now Limited

According to a leading loan company in Illinois, Advanced Case Loans, the State of Illinois has recently enacted new guidelines which all lenders in the State mush follow - limiting the amount any lender can loan to persons with lawsuits to no more than $40,000.00.

Many times during litigation in an injury case, persons find it extremely difficult to make ends meet. The insurance company may be denying a case or it may simply be that the process (which can take time) is taking a toll on an individuals finances. For this reason, many clients turn to loans that can be advanced by companies and repaid at the end of their cases. In most instances the interest on these loans is staggering - typically 45-50% per year. In essence, if a loan is make for $5,000, it would have to be paid back at $7,500 at the end of one year.

As Plaintiff's lawyers, QMM finds that most times, loans granted by these companies are typically small and meant to simply allow the injured victims to get by for a period of time until the case can be settled or tried. In those cases, this change will likely not effect the injured victims. However, in major injury cases, where extensive costs mount, this limitation could have further reaching effects. In either case, the State's new policy is something every Plaintiff/Petitioner should now be aware of.

Car Accident Tips

With the mounting number of car accidents causing injuries in the United States, insurance companies are doing everything they can to pay less on claims. In addition, it seems the average person has become a bit more skeptical about injuries from auto collisions. As such, it is imperative that you follow some basic rules if you've been the victim of an injury caused by another driver's negligence. Here are a few tips to ensure your claim is not one that is "red flagged" by the insurance company:

1. Hire a trusted lawyer immediately. Depending on your situation, you may not have insurance or other means to see a physician. Many times, an attorney can counsel you on other means to see physicians or where to go to ensure you receive the proper medical treatment. Most importantly, the attorney can guide you through the claim process in a manner that most protects your interest.

2. Obtain the best medical care possible immediately. This means go to a Hospital and document all areas of the body you feel pain immediately. If you wake up the next morning with pain in a different area of the body, go to the Hospital or doctor immediately and document it.

3. Never speak to the insurance company, no matter if they offer money. Many times the insurance company will make an initial offer in attempts to resolve the entire claim. The problem is, if you accept at the beginning of your medical treatment, you waive your rights to any more money if your condition becomes worse. As attorneys, we always wait to settle a case until the client has completed their medical treatment so that we know the full severity of the injury has run it's course.

4. Take photographs. This may seem obvious, but most people do not do it. Take photos of the damages to the cars, your injuries and even the intersection or areas where the accident happens. Photos are invaluable later during settlement negotiations or at trial.

5. Document your wage losses. If your off work, you must have a doctors note recommending you stay off in order for an insurance company to pay it. So, be sure to ask your doctor whether he/she feels you should work, and if they advise to take off, get a note and keep it for your file.

Hopefully, these 5 tips can help keep your injury claim out of the "red flag" pile and instead allow you to obtain the damages you deserve for your injuries.

Case Settles for over $200k

Doe v. Cortez - Attorney Jason A. Marker recently settled a serious injury case for over $200,000.00 on behalf of a Plaintiff who was T-boned at an intersection in Oswego, IL, and sustained injuries to his hip. As a result of the trauma, he underwent a total hip replacement surgery. After surgery, he had further complications, necessitating two revisions surgeries to the hip. Plaintiff was able to return to work, but lost significant wages as a result of the accident.

After settling with the Defendant for his own policy limit of $20,000.00, Plaintiff's own underinsured carrier (Central Mutual Insurance) eventually agreed to settle the case for an additional $200,000.00.

Amber Mikula to to Co-Mediate Will County Bar Association Family Law Seminar

On June 10, 2010, Amber Mikula, QMM attorney, will be co-mediating a seminar for Will County Bar Association members in the area of family law. The seminar is to be four hours long and slated to begin at 4:00 pm. and end at 8:00 p.m. Any attorneys who attend will obtain credit towards their Continuing Legal Education credits, required by the State of Illinois.

Ms. Mikula is the co-chair of the family law committee of the Will County Bar Association. She has been practicing primarily in the area of family law for nearly ten years, having previously worked for the Law Office of Jeffrey Leving in Chicago, IL. Ms. Mikula also recently served as President of the WIll County Habitat for Humanity organization and remains very active in the community.

Ms. Mikula provides consultations to clients in the area of family law. Over her years of practice, she has earned the esteem of her peers - including both judges and attorneys. Should you have a question or need to discuss any family law issues, QMM offers a free 1/2 hour consultation.

Bob Quinn to Speak at Business 101 Seminar in Bolingbrook on May 5, 2010!

On Wednesday, May 5, 2010, Bob Quinn, partner at QMM, will be presenting to local business owners at a Business 101 event at the Bolingbrook Fountaindale Library, Community Room. Business 101 is an organization established by Marti Barton, Robyn McBroom and Todd McBroom, which allows new business owners to discuss issues/needs that arise when establishing a new business. Mr. Quinn will be speaking about legal issues involved with incorporating one's business and starting from the ground up. Other professionals will be speaking on issues such as accounting, HR, banking, and marketing.

The event is limited to a certain number of persons and costs $20 per person. If you would attend or need more information, contact Marti Barton via e-mail at: marti@wordcraftersonline.com.

QMM Settles Largest Work Injury Claim under the Illinois Injured Workers' Benefit Fund!

QMM partner, Jason A. Marker, recently settled Doe v. Bill's Limousine, a workers' compensation claim, where a limousine driver was severely injured while attempting to assist a wheelchair client into a van she was driving for her employer. In doing so, she suffered a disc herniation to multiple levels of her cervical spine, which necessitated surgery. Ultimately, the case went to trial in Wheaton, Illinois and the Arbitrator found Petitioner to be permanently and totally disabled (never again able to work). The case was complicated by the fact that the employer did not have workers' compensation insurance as required by Illinois state law. Notwithstanding, Mr. Marker was able to settle the matter for over $304,000.00 with the State of Illinois, where Petitioner's recovery was paid under the Injured Workers' Benefit Fund.

The Injured Workers' Benefit Fund was created in 2006 as a way to pay injured workers the benefits they are entitled to under Illinois law in situations where employers fail to have the required workers compensation insurance. This was the first ever permanent total disability award under the Injured Workers' Benefit Fund and the largest settlement paid on such a case by the State of Illinois Attorney General's office to date.

If you've suffered a work injury and you would like more infomation on your rights, feel free to contact us at 630-759-7000 or via e-mail at: info@qmmlaw.com.

Do you know the 3 main benefits workers are entitled to under IL law?

If your injury happened while you were on the job and was related to a job task you were performing, you are entitled to three main benefits:

1. Payment of all medical bills related to the injury,

2. Payment for time off work at 2/3 of your average weekly wage, and;

3. Payment for the permanent damage the injury has caused you - which equates to a percentage loss of use of the body part you injured - or - if you cannot return to your job - 2/3 of your permanent wage loss for life.

Knowing the percentage loss of use a person is entitled to for a settlement can be a tricky thing. Most often an insurance company will offer much less than what an injury might be worth. Most often, injuries are determined by past decisions, which are posted in an index for attorneys to review call the "Q-Dex". Not every case is clear, but attorneys with years of experience typically will know what percentages a worker will be entitled to for a particular injury within a small range.

If you have questions or would like to discuss any of these benefits in more detail, feel free to contact us at 630-759-7000 or e-mail a question to www.info@qmmlaw.com.

QMM and partner, Robert Quinn - receive "Best of Bolingbrook" awards

On February 26, 2010, the firm was honored to win two distinguished awards from the Bolingbrook Community and the Area Chamber of Commerce. Nominated in the Professional Services category, the firm received the Best of Bolingbrook Business award after having previously been nominated for the same award for the past five years. We are both honored and gratified to receive this award in such a vibrant and growing community, especially considering the other top professional businesses which were also up for this award. The firm would like to thank the nominating committee and the residents of Bolingbrook for providing us their trust and confidence to serve over the past thirty years.

In addition to the firm being honored, partner Robert Quinn, received the prestigious Business Leadership award. For over thirty years, Mr. Quinn has devoted his time and talents to the citizens of Bolingbrook as a attorney and community activist. He has served on the Bolingbrook Chamber of Commerce as President and is currently the chair for the election committee for candidate for Circuit Court Judge, Wayne Kwiat, Sr.

To see how QMM can work for you, feel free to contact us at: info@qmmlaw.com or call 630-759-7000. We offer a free 1/2 hour consultation on most matters.

Illinois Supreme Court Strikes Down Tort Reform Statute

The Illinois Supreme Court struck a blow to tort reformers across the country, when it recently found Illinois' reform statute, enacted in 2005, was invalid in its entirety. In a 5-1 decision, the court found that core provisions of the law--including a $500,000 non-economic damages cap in products liability, medical negligence, and wrongful death cases, was unconstitutional. The high court held the statute improperly encroached on the judiciary's powers and violated the state constitutional proscription against "special legislation" by arbitrarily discriminating against injured plaintiffs. (Best v. Taylor Machine Works, No. 81890 (111. Dec. 18, 1997).)

Supporters of tort reform see this as a huge blow to rising medical malpractice fees and patients getting the best medical care in the State of Illinois. Conversely, organizations such as the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association view the ruling as a protection to injured victims.

QMM concentrates in representing injured persons. If you or someone you know has been injured in a motor vehicle collision, on the job, or in any other way, feel free to contact us to learn how we can help. 630-759-7000