Workers Compensation, Occupational Disease and Coal Mine Defense

FMGR devotes significant resources to the defense of employers involved in workers' compensation disputes, including major catastrophic claims and occupational disease claims. Our attorneys appear regularly at workers' compensation dockets throughout the southern half of the State of Illinois. We handle cases at the Whittington/Herrin, Mt. Vernon, Belleville, Collinsville, Mattoon, Carlinville and Kankakee workers' compensation dockets. Our attorneys also regularly argue appeals before the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission and the Illinois Appellate Court. The large volume of workers' compensation cases handled by the firm has resulted in the development of an expertise in the handling of these cases which provides the client with quality representation and economical service. Our attorneys recognize that different clients have different philosophies with respect to claims management. Although we handle a large volume of cases, we advise our clients on a case by case basis how to achieve the desired result for each individual claim. Whether you are an insurance company, a self-insured employer, or a third-party benefits administrator, FMGR will tailor your representation to suit your goals, while regularly communicating with you regarding the progress of your representation.

Our attorneys also have extensive experience defending occupational disease claims. We handle claims involving coal workers' pneumoconiosis, hearing loss, COPD, and a number of other pulmonary or respiratory conditions. In addition to the Illinois state black lung claims, we regularly handle federal black lung claims before the Department of Labor in several jurisdictions. In such a highly specialized area of the law, it is imperative that an attorney fully understand both the legal and medical aspects of the case. Our attorneys deal with these issues on a daily basis and have been instrumental in establishing case law which has strengthened employers' defenses to occupational disease claims.

FMGR has been consistently honored to serve on the Illinois State Bar Association Workers' Compensation Section Council. This organization helps to develop statewide policy in the area of workers' compensation and occupational disease. Our attorneys are also frequent speakers and writers on workers' compensation issues in various forums and publications throughout the state. Our experience, thoroughness and overall quality of representation has made FMGR one of the leading workers' compensation defense firms in the state.

FMGR Attorneys Practicing in this Field:

• Kevin L. Mechler
• Pieter N. Schmidt
• R. James Giacone II
• Jonathan A. Mitchell
• D. Brian Smith