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

Real Estate Update - $8,000 Tax Credit Extended

As you may have heard, the first-time home buyers credit of $8,000.00 has been extended recently by the Federal government, which is welcome news to the real estate community. The extension is good through June 2010 and the hope is this extension will allow further progress on the housing market for the last quarter of 2009 through the typically heavy spring/summer housing market in 2010. We welcome this as an opportunity for continued economic growth.

QMM concentrates in residential and commercial real estate transactions. If you or anyone you know might be a first-time home buyer, this would be an ideal time for them to purchase while taking advantage of this historic credit. We are happy to assist in all closings and welcome all questions/referrals.

In addition, the new legislation allows other categories of persons to obtain credits of up to $6,500 even if they are not first-time home buyers, but rather, are persons who have owned and occupied their homes for five years out of the past eight. Again, another welcome incentive for persons that might otherwise not have been able to move out of their existing homes due to the falling price of their home.

For more information, feel free to contact one of our attorneys at 630-759-7000 or via e-mail at: info@qmmlaw.com.

Do You Have Enough Auto Insurance Coverage?

Having represented persons involved in motor vehicle collisions for many years, this is a question I wish more clients would have address before being the victim of an injury resulting from the negligence of another driver. Whenever I give presentations with respect to personal injury, this is also the number one recommendation I have for people - GET MORE INSURANCE AND PROTECT YOURSELF!!

Per Illinois law, persons operating a motor vehicle need only have a minimum of $20,000.00 in liability coverage. (For complete list of state insurance requirements - see www.insure.com). This means, that if one is the victim of an injury due to the negligence of another driver and you incur medical bills over $20,000, it is unlikely that you will recover anything more than $20,000.

What is the problem you might ask? Well, in today's world, medical treatment costs have risen to all time highs. A person can incur medical bills totaling over $20,000 very quickly, considering the large costs of Hospital care, tests such as x-rays and MRI's, and physical therapy. If a person sustains and injury requiring hospitalization or surgery, it is likely that his/her bills will go over $20,000. Legally, the person responsible for an accident (the Defendant) can be personally liable for any medical charges or pain and suffering as a result of their negligence over and above $20,000; however, in today's society, most people don't have large sums of extra money laying around and thus, it's difficult to recover anything further from them personally.

What should you do to protect yourself? You can obtain coverage on your own, called underinsured coverage. This would pay for anything over and above what is paid by the Defendant (over $20,000 for example, or an additional $80,000 if you had a $100,000 underinsured policy. I would recommend a policy of AT LEAST $100,000 to ensure you can recover both the medical loss and pain and suffering caused by another negligent driver. I have been told by many insurance agents that the difference in an underinsured policy of $20,000 versus $100,000, is many times only $5 to $10 extra dollars per month. Considering statistics show motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for Americans aged 3-33 since 2002, why take the risk of having little to no insurance to properly compensate you for a loss? If you seek the proper coverage BEFORE your accident, you won't have to wonder why you can only recover such a small amount if your the victim of an injury caused by the negligence of a driver with low insurance coverage.