Best Asbestos Attorneys in Joliet il
Jerry FitzGerald
Asbestos Mesothelioma Attorneys
Since joining O’Brien Law Firm in 2005, Jerry has dedicated his entire legal career to helping men, women and families affected by asbestos disease. With many relatives having worked in the construction trades and as the son of a Local #1 Insulator, Jerry has firsthand knowledge of the damage asbestos exposure can cause. He works very closely with local unions and labor organizations through the Midwest supporting, educating and representing their members. Jerry takes pride in the relationships he has established in labor.
Jerry plays an active role in managing the law firm while personally working up client cases. His efforts in all aspects of the case – from initially meeting with clients, investigating exposures, securing depositions, and negotiating settlements – have resulted in the recovery of millions of dollars in compensation for his clients.
Jerry graduated from St. Louis University High School in 1997. With degrees in political science and business, he graduated from St. Louis University with honors in 2001. Jerry obtained his Juris Doctorate from the University of Dayton School of Law in 2004. He is licensed to practice law in Missouri and Illinois. Jerry currently lives with his wife and children in St. Louis City.
Joel E. Brown
Asbestos Mesothelioma Attorneys
Joel E. Brown is a skilled Peoria attorney and founder of Joel E. Brown, Attorney at Law. At the firm, he assists clients with complex personal injury and criminal defense cases, including wrongful death, motor vehicle and commercial vehicle accidents, product liability, workers’ compensation, white collar crimes, and more. Attorney Brown believes that consistent communication and realistic expectations are the keys to sound attorney-client relationships. He offers his clients a personal approach and dedicated, focused representation that takes into account their needs and goals. Most of all, he prides himself on his level of responsiveness and attentiveness in all matters. Attorney Brown is a tireless advocate of his clients’ rights and futures.
Education
- Saint Louis University School of Law, St. Louis, Missouri: J.D., 1992
- Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri: A.B.; 1987; Major: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Bar Admissions
- Illinois
- Missouri
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
Robert A. Clifford
Asbestos Mesothelioma Attorneys
Robert A. Clifford is the founder of Clifford Law Offices in Chicago, an internationally recognized plaintiffs’ trial firm that concentrates in aviation, car accidents, personal injury, medical negligence, product liability law, mass torts, and class actions. The National Law Journal has named Clifford Law Offices one of the Top 10 Litigation Boutiques in the country and has awarded Mr. Clifford the Elite Trial Lawyers’ Award.
Mr. Clifford has the distinction of being selected by Super Lawyers, a peer-review organization, as the number one lawyer in Illinois from 2009-2016 and in 2023, and has always been in the top three. He was named by Chicago Magazine as one of the 100 Most Powerful Chicagoans and was named the 2012 Chicago Lawyer Person of the Year, based upon his trial accomplishments, and his contributions to the legal community and to the Chicago area. The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals gave him its Professionalism Award in 2014. The Chicago Bar Association gave him the Justice John Paul Stevens Award in 2017, its highest honor. Also, that year he received the Unity Award from the Diversity Scholarship Foundation. The National Trial Lawyers named Bob Clifford the Class Action Trial Lawyer of 2018 and he has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America® from its inception, decades ago, including being the top in the Chicago metropolitan area in certain practice areas. He was recognized by Best Lawyers® as the 2019 Mass Torts Litigation / Class Actions “Lawyer of the Year” award winner in Chicago. That same year, the Illinois Trial Lawyers’ Association honored Mr. Clifford with the Leonard Ring Lifetime Achievement Award. He also was among those honored in 2019 by Public Justice’s Trial Lawyer of the Year Award.
Gary Annes
Asbestos Mesothelioma Attorneys
Gary Annes is a law partner at Abels & Annes, P.C. He has focused on handling personal injury law for over twenty years. The types of injury cases he works on include auto accidents, premises liability, wrongful death, medical malpractice and sexual abuse.
Since becoming a lawyer in 1995, Gary has handled many jury trials. Further, he has resolved numerous cases by arbitration and mediation. He has successfully collected millions of dollars for his clients.
From 2016-2023, Dave has been on the Top 100 Lawyer List published by Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters. There are more than 90,000 attorneys in Illinois, so the selection places him in approximately the top one-tenth of one percent. Further, Dave has been a Super Lawyer every year since 2014. This distinction is for the top five percent of attorneys in our state.
Additionally, Dave has a “10.0 Superb” personal injury lawyer rating from AVVO, a legal website that rates lawyers based on overall legal experience.
Dave is a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Membership in the Million Dollars Advocates Forum is for attorneys who have won million dollars verdicts, awards and settlements. Membership in the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum is for lawyers who have acted as counsel in at least one multi-million dollar verdict, award, or settlement.
Jessica Wieczorkiewicz
Asbestos Mesothelioma Attorneys
Jessica Wieczorkiewicz is an attorney at Wallace Miller. Her principal areas of practice are mass torts, product liability, and personal injury litigation. Prior to joining Wallace Miller, Jessica gained experience in professional liability, specifically medical negligence, where she represented health care networks, physicians, and nurses throughout the litigation process. Jessica’s time as a defense attorney provided invaluable experience of working on a case from the ground up along with significant courtroom exposure. Jessica applies that experience to help plaintiffs in cases against large corporations, including medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturers. Some of her current cases include Camp Lejeune, Paraquat Herbicide Litigation, 3M Defective Combat Earplugs, TDF/Tenofovir HIV Medication, Elmiron and JUUL.
Jessica is an involved member of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois. She served as a committee member for the Top Women Lawyer’s in Leadership Award Reception in 2021 and the Judicial Reception in 2022. She is a co-chair of the Membership Committee for the upcoming bar year. Jessica is also involved with the Advocate’s Society, an association of Polish-American attorneys. She serves on the public relations/newsletter committee.
Jessica graduated cum laude from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 2019, with a certificate in advocacy. During her time at Loyola, Jessica was a member of the Civil Law Mock Trial team and was the publication’s editor for the Consumer Law Review. Additionally, she served as a torts tutor under Professor Nina S. Appel. Jessica earned the CALI Award for Excellence in Pre-Trial Litigation and Legal Writing I & II. Jessica is from Chicago and lives here with her husband. She enjoys hanging out with her family and friends and spending time outdoors.
Athena Farmakis
Asbestos Mesothelioma Attorneys
Born and raised in the Chicagoland area, Athena has been zealously litigating complex and high-profile cases for over 20 years. She currently represents clients in all areas of personal injury including motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, nursing home abuse and wrongful death. As a former prosecutor in Cook County, Athena gained invaluable litigation experience in representing and fighting for the rights of victims and their families of violent crimes and child abuse. She knows the importance of zealous advocacy and represents her clients with passion and commitment to delivering excellent results.
Athena graduated from Northwestern University with a B.A. degree and completed her legal studies at DePaul University College of Law. She has been admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States, United States Northern District of Illinois, and the Illinois Supreme Court.
Athena holds office and is involved with many charitable and bar associations in her community outside of the courtroom. In her free time, Athena enjoys playing tennis, running, biking and travelling.
DANIEL R. CHAIDEZ
Asbestos Mesothelioma Attorneys
Daniel Ramon Chaidez is a life-long Chicagoland resident who grew up in the Northwest Suburbs. While attending Fenton High School, he participated on the Academic Team for three years, captaining his senior year, and played boys’ volleyball all four years. However, he never lost sight of his ultimate goal of becoming an attorney.
Even as a child, Mr. Chaidez was an active problem-solver for almost any situation, and as he matured, he discovered a great joy in helping other people.
Growing up as a Hispanic in the United States, he noticed how difficult it was for Spanish-speakers to handle complex issues without additional help.
Things like buying a car, filing taxes, and resolving insurance claims caused plenty of confusion and concern for several members of Mr. Chaidez’s family growing up.
Once he moved on to high school, there was no question he wanted to become an attorney and help out not only the Hispanic community, but anyone that needed help solving their problems.
Following high school, Mr. Chaidez earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Illinois in 2010 and immediately went on to receive his Juris Doctor from the John Marshall Law School in 2013.
Laura Babiak
Asbestos Mesothelioma Attorneys
Laura Babiak represents clients in complex pension, 401(k) plan, and employee stock ownership plan matters. Before joining Bailey Glasser, Laura worked as a student clinician in West Virginia University College of Law’s United States Supreme Court Clinic, representing clients on appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Laura also handles matters related to the denial of long-term disability benefits for people impacted by COVID-19, including individuals who are immunocompromised or have other issues that impact their ability to be in-person at workplaces, or who have long-haul COVID.
Awards & Accolades
Super Lawyers, West Virginia, “Rising Star,” Employee Benefits (2023)
National Trial Lawyers, “Top 40 Under 40” (2023)
Asbestos attorneys in Joliet, IL, or anywhere else, play a crucial role in assisting individuals who have been harmed by asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a hazardous mineral that, when its fibers are inhaled or ingested, can lead to serious health issues such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. Given the severe health risks associated with asbestos exposure, hiring experienced asbestos attorneys is essential for several reasons:
- Legal Expertise: Asbestos cases involve complex legal and medical issues. Attorneys who specialize in asbestos-related litigation have in-depth knowledge of the laws, regulations, and precedent cases related to asbestos exposure and can guide you through the legal process.
- Identification of Liability: Asbestos exposure can occur in various settings, including workplaces, homes, and public spaces. Determining who is responsible for the exposure requires a thorough investigation. Asbestos attorneys can help identify liable parties, such as manufacturers, employers, and property owners.
- Navigating Complex Lawsuits: Asbestos cases often involve multiple defendants, complex legal procedures, and lengthy discovery processes. Attorneys are equipped to handle the intricacies of these cases, ensuring your legal rights are protected.
- Medical Knowledge: Asbestos attorneys understand the medical implications of asbestos-related diseases. They can work with medical experts to establish a clear link between your exposure and your health condition.
- Maximizing Compensation: Asbestos-related diseases can result in significant medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. Attorneys work to maximize your compensation by calculating the full extent of your damages and pursuing appropriate legal remedies.
- Filing Claims Within Statute of Limitations: There are time limits, known as statutes of limitations, within which you can file an asbestos-related claim. Attorneys ensure that your case is filed within the appropriate timeframe to avoid losing your legal right to compensation.
- Negotiation and Litigation: Asbestos attorneys are skilled negotiators. They can negotiate with defendants and insurance companies to secure fair settlements. If a settlement cannot be reached, they have the experience to take your case to court.
- Emotional Support: Dealing with asbestos-related diseases can be emotionally taxing. Attorneys provide support, guidance, and a sense of advocacy during this challenging time.
- Legal Documentation: Attorneys handle the legal documentation and paperwork associated with your case, including filing complaints, motions, and other necessary documents.
- Peace of Mind: Hiring an experienced asbestos attorney allows you to focus on your health and well-being, knowing that your legal rights are being handled by professionals who understand the complexities of asbestos-related cases.
Given the seriousness of asbestos-related health conditions and the legal complexities involved, having knowledgeable asbestos attorneys in Joliet, IL, is essential to ensure your rights are protected and that you receive the compensation you deserve if you’ve been harmed by asbestos exposure.