Matthew J. Coleman

Matthew J. Coleman is a partner and head of the Work Injury Department at Parente & Norem. Before law school, he worked on the southside as a special education teacher in the Chicago Public Schools. Matt taught children and young adults with a variety of moderate to severe physical and developmental disabilities. He witnessed first-hand the daily challenges that face a person with a disability. “It’s in the little things – washing your hair. . .putting a seatbelt on. . .the little things we take for granted.”

Memberships and Associations:

Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
American Association for Justice
Illinois State Bar Association
Workers Compensation Law Association

In law school, Matt worked as a garbage collector for a local waste disposal company. “Every day on the route was an adventure. . .it’s a dangerous way to make a living. . .you are confronted with overloaded containers, malfunctioning equipment, traffic wrecks, wild animals, uneven terrain, and poorly lit corridors. . .each day you make it home safe is a blessing.” Matt also saw how management steadily applied more pressure upon its workforce to cut costs. “These are hardworking guys. . .nobody was going to work hoping to get hurt. . .but when your livelihood is constantly being threatened unless you work harder and faster. . .its an injury waiting to happen.”

These experiences guide Matt as a trial attorney. Since graduation he has concentrated his practice in the representation of injured workers and their families and is dedicated to guiding them through the legal process. “We’ll fight for every penny. . .but communication is key. . .I want to educate my clients in each step of litigation so they can make informed decisions as to how to proceed.”

Matt has represented members of Teamsters Unions, Carpenters Unions, LiUNA, AFSCME, IAM , Pipefitters Union, Roofers Union, Fraternal Order of Police, and local Firefighters Unions, in their claims before the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. He routinely tries cases before Arbitrators and has successfully argued before the Commission, Circuit Courts, and the Illinois Appellate Court. Matt will also handle any “third party” action in State or Federal court when the work injury is caused by the carelessness of others. This includes cases involving motor vehicle and truck wrecks, construction negligence, products liability, and unsafe conditions on a premises.

Matt also represents railroad workers injured due to unsafe conditions in the workplace. Matthew has had the privilege to represent members of the Brotherhood of the Maintenance of the Way Employees, Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, IAM, and SMART in their cases under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), the OSHA Whistleblower Act (FRSA Sec. 20109), and other safety statutes intended to keep railroad workers safe.

In 2018, Matt was honored by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin as one of the Top 40 Lawyers under Forty to Watch in Illinois. He has also been recognized by his peers as a Super Lawyer in the field of work injuries. In 2021 Matt co-authored the chapter on Vocational Rehabilitation for the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association’s “Worker’s Compensation Trial Notebook.”

Most of all Matt enjoys educating individuals to level the playing field against big corporations, railroads, and insurance companies. He has traveled across the state of to meet and inform union workers as to their rights under the Illinois Workers Compensation Act and FELA.

Matt lives on the southside with his wife and three children. He has a young daughter with a cerebral palsy diagnosis. This affects her ability to crawl, sit, walk, and use one of her arms. She works hard in physical therapy and attends the Center for Independence Through Conductive Education. Matt is actively involved with the Center and is most passionate about educating others about cerebral palsy and children with differences. His family also sponsors the training of a puppy for the Guide Dogs of America.

Results:

$725,000.00 for a 701 mechanic that suffered a vertebral fracture in his cervical spine and closed head injury.
$562,500.00 for a Teamster and over the road truck driver that was struck with a package that was discharged from an overhead belt conveyor suffering injuries to his head, neck, and elbow.
$475,000.00 for a Teamster garbage truck driver that injured his hip and back when he slipped on ice pushing a container.
$455,000.00 for a Teamster truck driver that injured his shoulder at work and injured his neck in physical therapy. The company denied it was responsible for the neck injury. The case settled after we were successful at trial.
$450,000.00 for a Teamster garbage truck driver that injured his neck, shoulder, and elbow pulling a tote that the resident filled with water. The company denied medical treatment related to the neck. The case settled after we were successful at trial.
$440,000.00 for a Teamster truck driver that injured his back when a roll up door jammed.
$440,000.00 for 597 Pipefitter who injured his back when he was rear ended by an HVAC work truck.
$410,000.00 for a journeyman carpenter who suffered an ankle fracture when he slipped on ice.
$400,000.00 for third year apprentice carpenter who suffered injuries to his low back pushing a material cart down a ramp.
$375,000.00 for a local 399 engineer who suffered a back injury while working on a washing unit in his building.
$360,000.00 for a bricklayer that suffered a neck injury when he was involved a motor vehicle crash. The company denied the client was entitled to continuing benefits. The case settled after we were successful at trial.
$350,000.00 for a 701 mechanic who injured his low back carrying a fifth wheel. The company denied that his back injury and the need for treatment was related to the injury. The case settled after we were successful at trial.
$350,000.00 settlement on behalf of a truck driver who suffered aggravations of pre-existing shoulder injuries when freight fell from a trailer striking him.
$350,000.00 settlement for a Teamster over the road driver who injured her shoulder and back pulling a chain that jammed in a snow storm.
$350,000.00 for a warehouse manager diagnosed with CRPS after he strained his body to prevent heavy equipment from falling to ground.
$320,000.00 for an operating engineer that injured his knee. The company denied it owed benefits as he was still working on a light duty list. The case settled after we were successful at trial.
$300,000.00 for radiation therapist who suffered a shoulder injury. The company agreed to settle after trial before the Arbitrator issued a decision.
$265,000.00 settlement on behalf of union carpenter who suffered a torn meniscus when he fell in an open pit on a construction site
$250,000.00 for a Teamster truck driver that suffered a pinched nerve in his leg causing drop foot.
$250,000.00 for a 62 year old Teamster garbage truck driver that injured his knee and had to undergo total knee replacement surgery.
$250,000.00 for a diesel mechanic that slipped, twisted, and fell at work injuring his back.
$250,000.00 for a Teamster truck driver who tore his rotator cuff when a roll up door he was opening jammed.
$225,000.00 for a Teamster truck driver that injured his neck when the landing gear crank malfunctioned.
$200,000.00 for a medical practice manager who suffered a back injury and then a neck injury in physical therapy. The case settled midway through trial.
$200,000.00 for a Teamster truck driver that injured his back when a rollup door jammed. The company denied that the back injury was related to the incident. The case settled after we successfully cross examined the company’s IME doctor in a deposition.
$5,445,000.00 net jury verdict against Union Pacific Rail Road for injured an railroad worker brought under FELA.
$1,875,000.00 settlement for Joliet Teamster who suffered a back injuries requiring surgery when he rolled his garbage truck to avoid a head on collision with a semi-truck that turned into his lane.
$1,875,000.00 settlement for a SMART UTU railroad conductor who injured his wrist and back when his transport van was struck by a semi-truck.
$1,100,000.00 settlement for police officer who suffered a disc herniation when rear ended by sole business owner
$970,000.00 settlement for union roofer who fractured his right wrist in a trip and fall on a construction site
$500,000.00 verdict against Metra for commuter knocked down by ticket agent on the train platform. Metra appealed case but verdict was upheld.
$500,000.00 settlement on behalf a restaurant patron who slipped and fell suffering an open complex fracture of the right ankle
$460,000.00 settlement on behalf of a police officer who suffered an aggravation of impingement syndrome when run off the road by a truck driver.