Jeffrey M. Alter
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. Jeffrey is a husband, father, and trial attorney representing injured workers, achieving notable success at every level of the court system through the Appellate Court of Illinois. He is admitted to the bar in the State of Illinois, and in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
Jeffrey is also an active member of the Chicago Bar Association, Illinois Trial Lawyers’ Association, and the American Association for Justice. Among his professional accomplishments, Jeffrey is a past Committee Chair and seminar speaker of note for the Chicago Bar Association and the Illinois Trial Lawyers’ Association. He is also an author of two chapters in the Workers’ Compensation Notebook, published by the Illinois Trial Lawyers’ Association. He is also a past Committee Chairman for the Chicago Bar Association’s workers’ compensation committee.
Recent Settlement and Verdicts:
- $512,500.00 settlement for a union carpenter who sustained a severe back injury resulting in multiple surgeries. The claim was initially denied and disputed by the employer and was tried on an emergency Section 19(b) petition. An award was entered on the injured worker’s behalf, in which future surgery was awarded as well as past due benefits in the amount of $68,000.
- $425,000 settlement for a union roofer who sustained a severe wrist fracture and subsequently developed chronic regional pain syndrome. The claimant was unable to return to his former employment. In addition to the settlement, a Medicare Set Aside was also funded with an initial amount of $61,000, with an additional $15,000 per year, for future medical treatment.
- $400,000+ award for a union carpenter with a lower back injury. The claim was disputed and denied by the insurance carrier due to a pre-existing condition. The Arbitrator awarded all medical benefits, lost time, and future medical treatment.
- $375,000.00 settlement for an injured roofer who sustained a severe ankle fracture and lower back injury that prevented him from returning to his former employment.
- $375,000.00 settlement for a mechanic with a cervical fusion resulting from a work injury, who was unable to return to his former employment.
- $362,000.00 settlement for a union laborer with multiple knee surgeries resulting in his inability to retun to his former occupation.
- $330,000.00 settlement for a completely disputed claim for a union carpenter who sustained a back injury, but did not undergo surgery, but had permanent restrictions that precluded him from returning to work as a carpenter. The case was initially tried on an emergency Section 19(b) petition as all issues were in dispute. The arbitrator found in favor of the injured worker on all issues.
- $304,000.00 settlement for a Local #32 laborer who sustaind a career ending injury after sustaining a lower back injury that resulted in surgery and permanent restrictions.
- $300,000.00 settlement for a union ironworker who sustained a shoulder injury that required multiple surgeries. The injured worker was unable to return to work as an ironworker, but was able to return to work in his concurrent employment as a truck driver.
- $300,000.00 settlement for a Local #1 ironworker with an operated lower back injury.
- $300,000.00 settlement for a Local #10 carpenter who injured his lower back, but did not have surgery. The injury prevented him from returning to work as a carpenter. The settlement also included an additional $33,000.00 for a Medicare Set Aside to address future medical needs.
- $285,000.00 settlement for a laborer with an operated neck injury.
- $277,000.00 settlement for a Local #1 ironworker with an operated lower back.
- $275,000.00 settlement for an asbestos abatement worker, who fell and sustained multiple injuries, requiring surgery on both knees.
- $275,000.00 settlement for an automobile mechanic after an award of benefits by the Arbitrator after the employer denied further medical treatment for the injured worker; the Arbitrator awarded all requested benefits, including prospective medical treatment.
- $250,000.00 settlement for a union chemical operator after suffering a lower back injury.
- $238,000.00+ settlement for an ironworker unable to return to work as a result of a back injury.
- $239,000.00 for a union ironworker who sustained a lower back injury and underwent a lumbar fusion, resulting in his inability to return to work as an ironworker.
- $227,000.00 award of benefits for a mechanic with a neck and knee injury on a totally disputed claim. Award included $100,000.00+ in penalties against the employer.
- $225,000.00 settlement for a delivery truck driver that sustained a severe shoulder injury, resulting in his inability to return to his former occupation.
- $215,000.00 settlement for a Local #1 ironworker with a lower back injury.
- $202,000.00 settlement for an injured worker that sustained a right arm injury resulting in multiple surgeries.
- $200,000.00 settlement for a union painter who sustained a knee injury requiring surgery.
- $199,900.00 settlement for a supermarket worker who sustained a knee injury, requiring multiple surgeries.
- $192,000.00 settlement for a store worker that suffered multiple injuries to her shoulder and neck, resulting in cervical surgery. The settlement also included an additional $112,000.00 for a Medicare Set Aside to address future medical needs.
- $185,000.00 settlement for an ironworker after receiving an award of weekly wage differential benefits at trial.
- $185,000.00 settlement for a laborer with an operated ankle injury.
- $175,000.00 settlement for an office worker with a sacroiliac joint injury.
- $150,000.00 award of past due benefits for a laborer injuring his knee from a fall at work.
- $139,000.00 award for a worker injured in a fall, but all benefits were denied; claim was settled for an additional lump sum of $185,000.00.
- $132,000.00 award to a widower against the State of Illinois in a claim for death benefits that was completely disputed by the State. The arbitrator found that the cause of death from the medication being used for the work injury was a cause of the injured worker’s death.
- $125,000.00+ award of past due TTD benefits and medical benefits for a union laborer who sustained a knee and lower back injury. The claim was disputed based upon the Respondent’s IME physician’s report.
- $99,999.00 settlement for a widow in a completely disputed and denied claim for benefits.
- $79,000.00 award against the City of Chicago for an injured worker who sustained repetitive injuries to her upper extremities while performing her job duties.
- $77,000.00 award of past due benefits, as well as an award by the Arbitrator for recommended knee surgery.
- $70,000.00+ awarded at a 19(b) hearing for past due TTD benefits and medical benefits for a laborer who injured his lower back while working. The claim was completely denied and disputed due to an alleged delay in receiving medical treatment.
- Award of weekly wage differential benefits for life for a union laborer injured while working for the City of Chicago.
- Award by the Arbitrator for an artificial disc replacement for an automobile mechanic who suffered a lower back injury.
- Award of prospective medical treatment for bilateral carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel syndrome at a 19(b) hearing for an office worker.
Areas of Practice
- Workers’ Compensation
- Police and Fire Pension Disability
- Social Security Law
Bar Admissions
- Illinois
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois
Education
- Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Chicago, Illinois
- J.D. – 1999
- Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
- B.S. – 1993
- Honors: Graduated with Honors
- Major: Biology
Published Works
- Res Judicata & Collateral Estoppel-ILTA, 2002-2014
- Liens on Workers’ Compensation Claims- ILTA, 2007-2014
Classes/Seminars
- Developing Case Law , Chicago Bar Association (04/2004)
- Liens in Workers’ Compensation , Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (11/2007)
- Liens in Workers’ Compensation Claims , Chicago Bar Association (05/2008)
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Chicago Bar Association, Past Committee Chair and Seminar Speaker
- Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
- American Association for Justice
- Workers Compensation Lawyers Association