Author: Jennifer Gulbrandsen

Parente & Norem trial attorney, Dennis Lynch, has been published in this month’s Illinois State Bar Association Tort Trends newsletter. The article, ‘Confusing Duty and Breach of Duty in Motion Practice’ highlights differences between the two and how they are often conflated and confused in practice. 

Congratulations to Dennis on his publication! To learn more about Dennis Lynch and to contact him for a free case evaluation click here.

$6,000,000 settlement for carpenter after offer is increased by $2,000,000 

following opening statements

A Cook County construction negligence case has settled for $6,000,000 mid-trial.

Joshua Rominski was a Local 13 Union Carpenter when he was injured on the job on February 9, 2016.  Rominski was working for Service Drywall and Decorating doing rough carpentry during construction of an addition to the Mather Place retirement home in Wilmette, Illinois.  W.E. O’Neill was the general contractor for the project.  

As part of the project, a temporary scaffold staircase was constructed to allow each worker to access the site.  Rominski alleged that on the morning of February 9, 2016, after using the stairs several times, he slipped on snow and ice and fell down several steps, injuring his back.  Weather reports showed there was minimal snow that morning – .04 of an inch – and Rominski’s foreman and coworkers could not recall there being snow or ice on the stairs.  Accident reports filled out later that day indicated there was ice and snow.  

Plaintiff claimed that any ice or snow on the stairs violated OSHA’s scaffolding rules.  They further claimed that W.E. O’Neill was short staffed on the day of the accident – its site safety supervisor has left W.E. O’Neill and had not been replaced, the labor foreman was sent to another jobsite that day, and the project manager did not come to work until later in the day.   One W.E. O’Neil laborer testified that he would have gotten to work early and cleared any snow and ice from the stairs before any subcontractors started working. 

As a result of his fall, Rominski had an L5-S1 fusion and was unable to return to work as a union carpenter.  However, W.E. O’Neil claimed Rominski was able to work at the medium demand level, which was all that Service Drywall’s job description required.  Rominski’s father and grandfather were union carpenters, and his inability to return to that job had a profound impact on him.    

The case was twice mediated before Judge William Gomolinski of ADR Systems.  Prior to opening statements, W.E. O’Neill offered $4,000,000.  After opening statements, W.E. O’Neil offered $6,000,000, which was accepted by Rominski.  Additionally, Service Drywall agreed to reduce its workers’ compensation lien by half.  Judge Israel Desierto presided over the trial.

Rominski was represented by Matthew Coleman, Dennis Lynch and Taylor Matichak of Parente & Norem.  

Attorney Matt Coleman also represented Rominski in his workers’ compensation case.  In that case, the Workers’ Compensation Commission Arbitrator denied the claim – finding that Rominski only suffered a back strain and could return to work.  The Workers’ Compensation Commission reversed the arbitrator and awarded benefits.  This decision was recently affirmed by the Appellate Court.  Service Drywall and Decorating v. Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission, 2022 IL App (1st) 210965WC-U (4/22/22).  As a result of the Arbitrator’s ruling denying the claim, Rominski went without pay or medical benefits for over 5 years.  

W.E. O’Neil was represented by Katherine Crouch and Howard Trafman of Lindsey, Picket and Postel.

Service Drywall and Decorating was represented by Brad Smith of Keefe, Campbell, Biery.  

Matthew J. Coleman is a partner and head of the Work Injury Department at The Law Offices of 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.”

Matthew also regularly travels the state to meet and educate union workers as to their rights under the Illinois Workers Compensation Act.  He has also a frequent collaborator with the Illinois Trial Lawyer’s Association.  In November of ’20 he was invited as a guest lecturer regarding changes in work injury law.

Matthew 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.  Matthew 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. 

Matthew 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.

For more information on Matthew J. Coleman and the rest of the team at The Law Offices of Parente & Norem, click here. 

Attorney Dennis M. Lynch has received multi-million dollar and record setting verdicts and settlements on behalf of injury victims throughout Illinois, and has also represented individuals nationwide, including cases filed in Indiana, Kentucky, Colorado, and Michigan. He has also represented numerous union flight attendants who reside nationwide and overseas concerning on the job injuries.

His cases have been brought against the largest corporations and insurance companies in the world and have involved all areas of personal injury litigation, including interstate trucking, insurance bad faith, products liability, workers’ compensation, nursing home litigation, and medical malpractice.

Since 2015, Dennis Lynch has helped teach the Construction Law class at Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Dennis was also invited to speak at his alma mater, Lewis University, on how you can apply your History degree in today’s world. 

Dennis was named one of the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin’s 40 Illinois attorneys under 40 to watch in 2021. For more information on Dennis Lynch and our Parente & Norem team, click here. 

The Law Offices of Parente & Norem, P.C. is proud to announce that Matthew J. Coleman and Taylor R.  Matichak from the firm’s Work Injury department have been invited to contribute to the Illinois Trial Lawyer Association’s  Trial Journal Magazine.  The publication offers current legal trends and tips and is circulated statewide to plaintiff’s injury attorneys.  This will be Matthew Coleman’s second feature article.   

Matthew J. Coleman and Taylor R. Matichak were also selected to contribute to the Illinois Trial Lawyer Association’s Workers’ Compensation Trial Notebook.  The publication is widely considered to be the most comprehensive worker’s compensation educational material within the state.  The Chapter is titled “Vocational and Physical Rehabilitation.”

For more information on Parente & Norem’s  experienced trial attorneys, click here. 

The Law Firm of Parente & Norem, P.C. and partner Matthew J. Coleman, are proud to be “Double Eagle” sponsors at the Center for Independence’s 24^th Annual Benefit. 

The mission of the Center for Independence is to help children with physical disabilities gain independence. The Center does this by developing their motor functions in a manner that creates positive self-esteem, self-direction and an “I Can!” attitude. Since 1998, the Center for Independence has served more than 1000 children and young adults and provided over $14,000,000 in charitable services. No child has ever been turned away, nor program hours reduced, due to insurance or income limitations.

Parente & Norem is proud to introduce Tiki, a guide dog sponsored by partner and head of our Work Injury department, Matthew Coleman. Tiki is a guide dog with the Guide Dogs of America. She is an adorable Lab who is just about to be 18 months old, and has passed all of her ‘puppy kindergarten’ training. 

Guide Dogs of America is an organization that transforms lives through partnerships with service dogs. They breed, raise, and train guide dogs for individuals who are blind/visually impaired, and provide service dogs for veterans and children with autism. They also place facility dogs with professionals in hospitals, schools, and courtrooms. Guide Dogs of America’s highly skilled canines become trusted companions that increase people’s confidence, mobility, and independence. All programs and services, including transportation, personalized training, room/board, and postgraduate support, are provided at no cost to the recipient.

This past December, Tiki was selected as a breeder for Guide Dogs of America! This is quite an honor because only the top 2% of dogs being puppy raised are selected for this special program! We hope Tiki will deliver many generations of successful service/guide dogs. Way to go, Tiki! We think you’re pretty PAWESOME!!! ?

Meet Parente & Norem trial attorney, Taylor Matichak. As a fearless advocate and supporter of workers’ rights, Taylor R. Matichak focuses her practice exclusively on work injuries. Her relentless support of workers’ rights began in early childhood after her father, an ironworker with Local 444, suffered serious and permanent injuries on a jobsite in a construction accident. Experiencing first-hand the many challenges that injured workers and their families face is the reason Taylor decided at a young age to pursue law school. Her own experiences allow her to clearly understand and effectively communicate the needs of our clients. She truly cares for the injured workers she represents and commits herself to every case with compassion and diligence. For more information on Taylor and our other attorneys, click here.

The Law Offices of Parente & Norem, P.C. is proud to announce that we were a dinner sponsor at this week’s Annual Will & Grundy Building Trades Council Golf Outing at the Wedgewood Golf Club in Joliet. 

The event brought together several businesses, unions, and professionals for a day of fun on the links, networking, and camaraderie. The Parente and Norem team was well represented by our attorneys Dennis Lynch and Taylor Matichak, as well as paralegal Esmeralda Ruiz.

When you’ve been injured, a lot of times it can be difficult to determine whether or not you need a personal injury attorney. In the moment, you could have complete trust in the insurance companies to act in your best interests. Maybe you don’t think your injuries or losses are enough to have a long term impact on you and your loved ones’ lives. Here at the Law Offices of Parente & Norem, P.C. our experienced trial attorneys are here to fight for your rights and get you the care and compensation you deserve. Here are five reasons why you need a personal injury attorney after you’ve been injured. 

The Insurance Companies Are Not Working In Your Best Interests

It’s always best to remember that while insurance companies have to operate within certain laws and guidelines; at the end of the day they are a business that isn’t concerned with you as an individual more than they are concerned with their bottom line. They also have teams of attorneys in their corner managing negotiating the lowest settlement possible for a claim. It simply isn’t a fair fight if you go it alone. You deserve to have a competent trial attorney in your corner who will not only level the playing field, but also work tirelessly for your rights. 

The Damages You’ve Sustained May Be More Serious Than You Think

When an injury occurs, no one has a crystal ball to see into the future of how that injury will impact your life for years to come. While you may feel fine today, issues can pop up at any time down the road, and you should receive appropriate care and compensation to treat your injuries. There are laws that protect victims of another’s negligence to receive compensation for intangible damages, such as pain and suffering, and loss of consortium. The personal injury attorneys at Parente & Norem can best assess these damages and work to get you the best relief possible. 

Our Biggest Priority Is Your Recovery

The Law Offices of Parente & Norem will be there to guide you through the recovery process from the moment you seek medical attention for your injury through negotiations with the at-fault parties to get you fair compensation. If the offer isn’t favorable to our client, we take the case to trial. That’s what we mean when we say experience, dedication, and proven results. 

Sometimes Liability Is Unclear

There are times when an incident with injuries occurs, and who is at fault or negligent can seem ambiguous. If liability is unclear, you will need someone willing to compile a substantial amount of evidence to prove your innocence and that the other party was negligent. In the case of a car accident, for example, police records, photos of the accident, the official accident report, medical records, and eyewitness testimony are all pieces of evidence you must collect, organize, and use to make your case. This is why having an experienced personal injury attorney in your corner is so vital when it comes to seeking justice. 

Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney Saves You Time

Your life after being injured should be solely focused on recovery. It takes hours upon hours to collect things like medical records, police reports, accident/incident reports, interviewing experts, and dealing with insurance adjusters. Let the professionals handle this process so you can focus on recovering and returning to the life you had before getting injured. 

As you have read, there are several reasons to hire a personal injury attorney.  Between insurance negotiation, knowing how to look out for injuries, and having a deep understanding of the law, a personal injury lawyer is much better equipped to earn you your due care and compensation. Call or text Parente & Norem today at 312.641.5926 for a free case evaluation. At The Law Offices of Parente & Norem, P.C. your path to justice begins with us. 

This article is strictly informational and should not be considered legal advice.