
About Anesi Ozmon
Personal Injury Firm in Chicago
From our founding in 1955 to today, our original philosophy and commitment to protecting the rights of injured individuals remain our ongoing legacy. Our group of leading personal injury lawyers is, individually and collectively, lauded by peers and competitors.
We continue fighting for injured Chicago-area workers and individuals. Our skilled and compassionate attorneys and staff work to build on the Anesi Ozmon legacy every day.
If you have been injured or a loved one was the victim of wrongful death, you need the highest quality legal representation. At Anesi Ozmon, we carefully select the cases we undertake, allowing us to provide the personal attention and level of service our clients deserve. We are not a high-volume firm, and we will not settle your case for less than what it is worth.
Learn more about our Chicago injury firm today, then call us at (312) 779-6610 to find out how we can help you pursue your claim.
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We Handle Your Case, So You Can Recover
We understand the uncertainty you face and aim to provide you peace of mind. Clients may worry about making ends meet while missing work because of injuries or staying out of debt from medical bills. Our aim is to go above and beyond what you expect so that you can focus on recovery.
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Work Directly With Your Attorney
Our firm believes that in order be a successful team, we need to work directly with our clients. Not only do you get to work directly with your attorney, but you always have access to their direct number to ensure your questions never go unanswered.
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Personalized Strategies & Results
At Anesi Ozmon, we believe that no two situations are alike. Thus, we work to not only learn about your case but also about what unique goals and needs you may have in order to provide you with legal counsel customized to you.
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Protecting the Injured Since 1955
Anesi Ozmon has four generations of leaders and decades of experience protecting the rights of those injured. When you come to our office, you don't just get our team, you get our history.
Meet Our Dedicated Team
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John M. Popelka
President
John M. Popelka focuses his practice exclusively on representing public and private sector clients in the area of Workers’ Compensation law. Equally comfortable in the courtroom and at the negotiating table, a significant portion of his practice involves litigating and settling claims for union workers who suffer career-ending injuries, permanent total disability, catastrophic injuries requiring home modification and lifetime medical care, and death cases. -
Jeffrey M. Alter
Partner
Jeffrey Alter is a partner with Anesi Ozmon after starting with the firm as a law clerk while still in law school. He is an advocate for severely injured people, specializing in injured workers, and his practice of law is concentrated in the areas of workers’ compensation, police and fire pension, and social security disability claims. -
Steven A. Berman
Partner
Steve Berman has over 20 years of experience in the area of personal injury litigation, including trying, as first chair attorney, over 60 personal injury jury trials throughout the state of Illinois, including Cook, DuPage, DeKalb, Federal District Court Northern District of Illinois, Lake, LaSalle, McHenry, McLean, Winnebago, and Whiteside counties. -
Brian D. Teven
Partner
Brian Teven, a partner with Anesi Ozmon, has spent his entire career representing clients whose lives have been severely impacted by injuries. Brian has been with Anesi Ozmon since 2009, and prior to that gained a wealth of experience handling personal injury and workers’ compensation cases at another prominent firm. -
Jennifer J.C Kelly
Partner
Jennifer J. C. Kelly joined Anesi Ozmon, Ltd. in 2013 and was elevated to partner in 2017. Jennifer’s unwavering support of workers’ rights began during her childhood in Northwest Indiana. Her father dedicated over 37 years as a Heat & Frost Insulator with Local 17, and her mother was a teacher and member of the American Federation of Teachers for over 40 years. -
Scott C. Sands
Partner
Scott C. Sands has over 30 years of experience in the area of personal injury litigation and trial law and has earned a reputation as an expert and leader in the field of Railroad Law. He represents injured railroad employees under the Federal Employer’s Liability Act (FELA), the Locomotive Inspection Act (LIA), and the Safety Appliance Act (SAA). -
David Figlioli
Partner
David Figlioli is a partner at Anesi Ozmon. He originally joined Anesi in 1990, where he spent 8 years focusing on workers’ rights and supporting those injured by reckless, negligent, and careless individuals and entities. -
Patrick J. Blum
Partner
Patrick J. Blum is an associate attorney at Anesi Ozmon. As a trial attorney, he considers it his privilege to represent individuals whose lives have been affected by the carelessness and negligence of others. -
Steve A. Wade
Associate
Steve serves the general practice needs of our clients. He has 26 years of experience in representing families and individuals in a variety of areas. He has handled dozens of probate estates. Steve has helped many families gain peace of mind by assisting them with drafting their estate planning documents. -
Patricia J. Kuzebski
Associate
Patricia concentrates her practice in workers’ compensation, vigorously representing clients through all phases of litigation. -
Lisa M. Ciharan
Associate
Lisa focuses on zealously advocating on behalf of clients who have suffered injuries or death due to the negligent or careless conduct of others. Lisa has been a trial lawyer practicing exclusively in the field of Plaintiff’s personal injury since she began her career in 2012. -
Charlie A. Terry
Associate
Charlie focuses his practice on advocating for the rights of his clients who have either suffered injuries or death due to the negligence, carelessness, and omissions of others. -
Mark Novak
Of Counsel
A highly committed and respected trial attorney with over 40 years of experience, Mark Novak serves as Chairman of Anesi, Ozmon. Aside from his active trial practice, Mark’s knowledge and experience have been reflected in other areas. He has lectured and written extensively on the law relating to personal injury cases. -
Douglas A. Colby
Of Counsel
As a young law student in 1980, Douglas A. Over the next 37 years, Doug has earned a national reputation as an expert in Workers’ Compensation law, devoting his practice exclusively to protecting the interests of seriously injured workers. -
Curt N. Rodin
Retired
For more than 30 years, Curt N. Rodin's casework on behalf of victims of construction injury, product defects, and medical malpractice have set legal precedents and won record-setting verdicts for his clients. -
Bruce M. Kohen
Retired
Now retired, Bruce M. Kohen is well-known for record jury verdicts and settlements throughout his over 25-year legal career. Bruce has worked tirelessly with legislators in Springfield to protect workers’ rights, and he has consistently generated multi-million dollar awards for his clients. -
Nat P. Ozmon
In Memoriam
Nat P. Ozmon was a founder of what is now Anesi Ozmon. Throughout the legal profession, he was recognized as a leader in personal injury law working tirelessly to protect injured victims. His foresight and innovative approaches to his clients' cases have resulted in many groundbreaking precedents in this field.

Our History
A timeline of our Illinois injury and workers’ compensation law firm:
1955
In 1955, Charles E. Anesi formed the Chicago law firm that would eventually become Anesi Ozmon. That firm focused its practice on the protection of the rights of injured workers, especially through the workers’ compensation laws of Illinois. During that same era of the mid-1950's, Nat P. Ozmon and Richard A. Lewin formed the firm of Ozmon & Lewin. Their firm concentrated on jury trials in personal injury claims. Nat Ozmon was recognized as a pioneer of personal injury trial law. He was a gifted trial attorney whose work had a tremendous influence on the field of personal injury law.
1964
In 1964, these two law firms merged in a strategic combination that greatly benefited their injured clients by providing a more comprehensive scope of services and broader protection of their rights.
1978
In 1978, the firm became known as Anesi Ozmon & Lewin, Ltd. At the same time, Curt N. Rodin and Noel C. Lindenmuth, both of whom had been associated with the firm since they were law students, became partners.
Subsequent years brought growth and greater success. Curt N. Rodin, Mark Novak, and Bruce M. Kohen continued in the firm’s tradition of excellence in jury trials while making outstanding contributions to the firm and expanding the scope of worker protection under the laws of Illinois.

1985
In 1985, with the passing of Richard Lewin, the name of the firm was changed to Anesi, Ozmon & Rodin, Ltd.
1997
In 1997, the firm became Anesi, Ozmon, Rodin, Novak & Kohen Ltd., reflecting the recognition and excellence of the firm’s second-generation leaders.
2021
At present, the next generation of firm leaders, Mark Novak, Doug Colby, Steven A. Berman, Jeffrey M. Alter, Brian D. Teven, Jennifer J.C Kelly, David Figlioli, and Scott Sands join firm president, John M. Popelka, in advocating the firm’s tradition of aggressive representation and excellence in trial work.
Find Out What Anesi Ozmon Can Do For You
Call us today at (312) 779-6610 or fill out our online contact form to schedule your free initial consultation.
