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). He has tried cases in both state and federal courts in multiple states including Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Iowa, Tennessee, and Montana. He takes great pride in protecting the rights of the injured.
Prior to joining Anesi Ozmon, Rodin, Novak & Kohen, Ltd., he practiced at Sands & Associates where he served as lead counsel on more than 200 personal injury cases. Sands tried and settled several multi-million dollar cases under FELA, the Jones Act, the Defense Base Act, and Longshore Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act cases, in addition to other personal injury cases. Scott also spent five years as a felony trial attorney with the Public Defender’s Office in Chicago.
Prior to joining Anesi Ozmon, Rodin, Novak & Kohen, Ltd., he practiced at Sands & Associates where he served as lead counsel on more than 200 personal injury cases. Sands tried and settled several multi-million dollar cases under FELA, the Jones Act, the Defense Base Act, and Longshore Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act cases, in addition to other personal injury cases. Scott also spent five years as a felony trial attorney with the Public Defender’s Office in Chicago.
Bar Admissions
- Illinois, 1986
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois Trial Bar
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Indiana
- U.S. District Court Western District of Tennessee
Professional Associations
- Illinois State Bar Association
- Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
- Academy of Rail Labor Attorneys
Languages
- Spanish
Education
- Bachelor of Arts in English, Minor in Business Administration
Southern Methodist University
University Park, TX
1983 - Juris Doctorate
The John Marshall Law School
Chicago, IL
1986
Notable Settlement and Verdicts:
- $3.26 million settlement for a Local 1 construction laborer who was struck by a Vermeer-hopper machine while working in the CTA’s redline tunnel
- $3.0 million for a railroad freight conductor who sustained a traumatic arm amputation when struck by a moving train
- $3.0 million settlement reached during trial in Federal court in Jackson, Tennessee, for a laborer struck at a crossing by a freight train and permanently disabled
- $2.34 million verdict for an Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad engineer injured when his locomotive was struck by another locomotive
- $1.86 million verdict for a BNSF conductor who sustained injuries due to negligence by the railroad
- $1.6 million settlement for unemployed laborer struck by a commercial truck
- $1.4 million settlement reached during trial for a locomotive engineer struck by another train
- $1.28 million verdict for a Canadian Pacific railway engineer injured when a seat collapsed
- $1.26 million verdict for a worker due to a defective railroad track switch
- $1.58 million verdict for a worker due to grab-bar breaking off a railcar, causing a fall and disabling injuries
- $1.10 million verdict for a freight conductor injured when he fell off a freight car
- Seven figure confidential settlement for the wife and children of a freight conductor killed when pinned between two freight cars.
Representative Cases
- $3.26 million settlement for a Local 1 construction laborer who was struck by a Vermeer-hopper machine while working in the CTA’s redline tunnel
- $3.0 million for a railroad freight conductor who sustained a traumatic arm amputation when struck by a moving train
- $3.0 million settlement reached during trial in Federal court in Jackson, Tennessee, for a laborer struck at a crossing by a freight train and permanently disabled
- $2.34 million verdict for an Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad engineer injured when his locomotive was struck by another locomotive
- $1.86 million verdict for a BNSF conductor who sustained injuries due to negligence by the railroad
- $1.6 million settlement for unemployed laborer struck by a commercial truck
- $1.28 million verdict for a Canadian Pacific railway engineer injured when a seat collapsed
- $1.4 million settlement reached during trial for a locomotive engineer struck by another train
- $1.26 million verdict for a worker due to a defective railroad track switch
- $1.58 million verdict for a worker due to grab-bar breaking off a railcar, causing a fall and disabling injuries
- $1.10 million verdict for a freight conductor injured when he fell off a freight car
Awarded in the Industry
