News

On October 25, 2024, The Law Offices of Parente & Norem, P.C.’s head of the work injury department, and partner, Matthew Coleman presented at the 2024 ITLA Workers’ Compensation Seminar at the Hilton Oak Brook Hills Resort in Oak Brook, IL. 

Mr. Coleman’s presentation, Doctor Depositions, shared his experience litigating work injury cases throughout the years with unique examples and tools of the trade. 

The Illinois Trial Lawyers Association is a statewide organization whose members specialize in representing injured consumers and workers. Founded in 1952, the organization has more than 2,000 members.

The Law Offices of Parente & Norem, P.C. would like to congratulate Christopher M. Norem on his acceptance of Fellowship into the International Society of Barristers. 

The International Society of Barristers (ISOB) has a membership of less than 750 lawyers adjudged by their peers and judges to be “outstanding in the field of advocacy,” the Society seeks to honor the role of trial lawyer in our system of justice. One of its principal goals is the preservation of the adversary system and jury trial. 

The ISOB was founded in 1965. Its founders conceived the organization to bring together the best of the trial bar in a setting devoid of partisan interests. The Society’s membership consists of Fellows of the Society. As individuals, the Fellows of the Society are committed to the highest of ethical standards and to civility in all their personal and professional relationships. One of the hallmarks of the organization is the inclusion of members’ spouses or significant others as full participants in the activities of the Society.

With a limited membership, the Society has Fellows from every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, and from Australia, Canada, England, Scotland, and Ireland, with the great majority from the United States.

No lawyer may apply for membership in the Society. New Fellows are elected by the Society’s Board of Governors on nomination by an existing Fellow and after inquiry as to the nominee’s skill as a trial lawyer and personal and professional integrity directed to other Barristers in the nominee’s region and to judges before whom the nominee has tried cases.

Mr. Norem’s acceptance into the ISOB is a testament to his outstanding advocacy, professionalism, and commitment to justice. It also reflects the high regard in which he is held by his peers and the judiciary. This achievement not only honors Mr. Norem personally but also underscores the caliber of legal representation offered by the Law Offices of Parente & Norem, P.C.

The Law Offices of Parente & Norem, P.C. would like to congratulate Christopher M. Norem on being awarded the JVR Plaintiff Attorney Achievement Award at the JVR Awards on October 16, 2024. 

Only a select few lawyers meet the criteria for the prestigious Plaintiff Attorney Achievement Award, making this a true testament to Mr. Norem’s exceptional advocacy, professionalism, and dedication to justice. It also highlights the esteem he holds among his peers. This honor not only celebrates Mr. Norem’s personal accomplishments but also emphasizes the high-quality legal representation provided by The Law Offices of Parente & Norem, P.C.

Please join The Law Offices of Parente & Norem, P.C. in congratulating partner, Cole Munvez, for his selection as one of the top 40 attorneys under 40 in Illinois! Over 1500 attorneys were nominated for this honor. 

What does it take to be recognized as one of the top young lawyers in the state? It requires intelligence, passion, professional success, a commitment to community service, and, above all, a dedication to working hard in one of the nation’s most vital professions.

Congratulations to Cole for continuing to exemplify Parente & Norem’s continued commitment to achieving the best in experience, dedication, and proven results for all of our clients! 

The Law Offices of Parente & Norem, P.C. as lead counsel along with Peter Higgins Law obtained the ‘Lead Case’ in the latest issue of the Cook County Jury Verdict Reporter for their $19.2M verdict in the death of a 37 yr old woman following complications from bariatric surgery. Click here for more details on this case. 

The Law Offices of Parente & Norem, P.C. would like to introduce the newest addition to our team, and new head of our Medical Malpractice Department, Charles Bletsas. Charles, a seasoned attorney in medical malpractice law, with a proven track record of success and legal expertise, brings an unparalleled level of experience to our firm. Click here to learn more about Charles and his experience. Please join us in welcoming Mr. Bletsas to Parente & Norem!

A recent settlement in Cook County Circuit Court was obtained for Mykola Berezan, a Chicago man who suffered severe injuries in a construction site accident. Berezan was working as a carpenter’s helper at a Countryside construction site in 2018 when a 30-foot wall collapsed, causing him to require spinal fusion surgery. 

The lawsuit, filed against real estate developer HP Ventures Group, LLC, and Capital Custom Homes, alleged negligence, premises liability, and loss of consortium. Berezan’s legal team, led by Dennis M. Lynch of the Law Offices of Parente & Norem, P.C., argued that the defendants failed to provide a safe workplace and ignored ongoing Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) violations related to wall bracing and construction safety protocols.

Lynch emphasized the limited emphasis on safety at the construction site, highlighting the devastating impact on Berezan’s life. At 36 years old, Berezan sustained a spinal cord injury that required multilevel fusion surgery and ongoing physical therapy. Although he has made progress and now walks with ankle braces and a cane, his injuries will affect him for a lifetime. The settlement aims to cover future medical care and supplement Berezan’s income, as he faces challenges finding employment that accommodates his physical limitations and extensive exercise program.

The $13 million settlement, reached in March, reflects the severity of Berezan’s injuries and the responsibility of the defendants. Retired Judge William E. Gomolinski of Gomolinski Mediation facilitated the mediation process, leading to a resolution that provides support for Berezan’s ongoing needs.

In addition to Lynch, Joseph D. Parente and Christopher M. Norem of The Law Offices of Parente & Norem, P.C. represented the plaintiffs, while Michael H. Carter of Lewis Brisbois represented Capital Custom Homes. Despite attempts to reach him for comment, Carter could not be reached. Susan Chae Corcoran of Leahy, Eisenberg & Fraenkel, Ltd., represented HP Ventures Group, declining to comment on the case.

The settlement serves as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing safety in the construction industry. It also highlights the legal recourse available to individuals injured due to negligence on construction sites. While nothing can fully compensate for the pain and suffering endured by Berezan and his family, the settlement provides financial support and a sense of justice for their ordeal.

As Berezan continues his journey toward recovery, the hope is that his story will raise awareness about the need for stringent safety measures in the workplace, ensuring that tragedies like his can be prevented in the future. If you or someone you know have been injured due to negligence, call/text The Law Offices of Parente & Norem, P.C. at 312.641.5926 or fill out a contact form here on our website. 

The Law Offices of Parente & Norem, P.C. settled a Cook County construction case for $13,000,000 shortly before trial. 

On July 12, 2018, a carpenter’s helper, then 30 years old, was working for a rough carpentry crew, BXH Construction, performing work on a townhome project in Countryside, Illinois.  The coworkers were raising and putting in place a 40-foot-long party wall which had been pre-sheeted with drywall.  While they were moving the wall into place with a sledgehammer, it fell over, landing on top of him as he was working on the other side of the wall.  He sustained an L2 burst fracture and underwent emergency fusion surgery from T12 to L3 at Loyola Hospital. He was initially confined to a wheelchair and suffered from bowel and bladder dysfunction. After several years of rehabilitation, he is able to walk long distances with ankle braces and a cane.  

Parente & Norem sued the general contractor, CCH, and the project owner, HPVG.  Discovery revealed that no one at BXH had any OSHA training, and CCH’s superintendent admitted he was not an OSHA competent person.  It was argued that although HPVG knew that CCH was not fulfilling its contractual obligations of providing daily site supervision and accident prevention, it did nothing to enforce its contract.  HPVG maintained that it did nothing wrong and was not contractually obligated to police safety, claiming that CCH was an experienced general contractor and it could and did rely on them.  

Although no one was present from CCH or HPVG at the time of the injury, it was argued that BXH had followed the same faulty bracing and movement procedures multiple times before the incident.  The Defendants contended there was nothing wrong with the bracing procedure and this was a fluke occurrence that could not have been foreseen.  All witnesses agreed that he did nothing wrong.  

The case was set to proceed to trial on April 10, 2024.

The settlement included an assignment of CCH and HPVG’s contribution claims against BXH.  Plaintiff now intends to try the contribution case on April 10, 2024 against his employer, BXH, to eliminate the approximately $1.5 million workers’ compensation lien.   

The case was mediated by retired Judge William Gomolinski. 

The plaintiff was represented by Dennis M. Lynch, Joseph D. Parente, and Christopher M. Norem of Parente & Norem.

CCH was represented by Michael Carter of Lewis Brisbois

HPVG was represented by Dan Boho of Hinshaw and Culbertson, Susan Chae Corcoran of Leahy Eisenberg and Andrew Elbogen of Kopka Pinkus.

BXH was represented by Kasia Nowak of Foley and Mansfield.

If you or someone you know has been injured due to negligence, call/text The Law Offices of Parente and Norem, P.C. at 312.641.5926 or fill out a contact form here on the website.