Summary
Robert Smith has practiced in workers’ compensation defense
and insurance defense litigation since 1989. He joined the firm
in 1992. His practice has a particular focus on defense of injury
claims involving the construction industry, and he is active in
several construction and transportation industries. Specific areas
of Robert’s defense practice include:
Employer defense in complex/catastrophic
injury cases
Construction injury claim defense
Defense of hearing loss claims brought under
the Occupational Diseases and Workers’ Compensation Acts
Utilization Review of medical care
Areas of Emphasis
Workers’ compensation defense
Peer Rated
AV Rated for Professional Ability
AV Rated for Ethical Standards
Character & Fitness Committee,
Supreme Court of Illinois, Board of Admissions (2nd
Dist.)
Other
Robert makes an annual seminar presentation on “Recent Developments
in Illinois Workers’ Compensation,” and has written
on the same topic. His article, “Notice Under the Illinois
Workers’ Compensation Act,” has appeared in the Illinois
Bar Journal.
Presenter: 2009 IWCC Commissioner
and Arbitrator Annual Training. Practical Application for Utilization
Review.
Faculty: Annual Chicago
Trauma Symposium. Medical-Legal Issues for Trauma Surgeons.
Multiple annual presentations on aggressive
cost containment and case resolution strategies.
Significant Decisions include:
Romero v. Wright Business: Application of Utilization Review
in major surgery/high TTD exposure setting.
Fields v. Rossi: Commission
need not defer to the treating physician when that physician's
opinion is based on incomplete medical information.
O'Toole v. United Airlines: Speculation
about what "might" be earned in the future may not be
the basis of a wage loss claim.
Vargas v. Manuel Contractors: Going
back to a jobsite to retrieve a tool, after a day's work had been
completed, and being injured in the process, does not entitle
one to workers compensation.
Bar Admissions
Illinois
U.S. District Court, Northern District
of Illinois
