Block, Klukas, Manzella & Shell - November 2017

Block, Klukas, Manzella & Shell - November 2017

NOVEMBER 2017 815-726-9999 | www.blocklaw.com THE BKMS BULLETIN

Small Town Firm, Big City Results Standing Against the Test of Time

“Block, Klukas, Manzella & Shell” can sound like quite a mouthful, but if the firm kept the names of all partners, past and present, it would certainly be a lot longer. Today, I’m the firm’s senior partner, but I’ll let you in on a secret: I wasn’t here when the doors first opened. Now, to be fair, when the firm started in 1951, I was 4 years old. I had yet to master the alphabet, let alone the law of the land. But law was certainly in my future. courtroom shows like “Perry Mason” and, later, “Judd, for the Defense” made being a lawyer look exciting, but even without the fictional dramatization, I felt drawn to law. Plus, my older brother, Winston, had gone to law school before me, and his experiences helped influence my decision to pursue the career. When I graduated law school in 1970, I was the youngest lawyer in the state of Illinois at 22, and I was ready to dive right in. The original founders of this firm later left and became judges. A law school classmate of mine had joined another local firm, and at his recommendation, Back then, law was gaining popularity as a challenging career choice. On television,

I joined a local firm, as well. Until that point, the firm’s primary focus had been on municipal work and family law. Recognizing a need in the community,

to win a jury case by proving a client’s immunodeficiency had been chemically induced. We were one of the first law firms to introduce PET scans as evidence in a brain damage case, something that is now standard practice in such cases. We have handled leading workers’ comp cases dealing with electrocution, brain damage, and off-the-clock injuries; and we’ve even changed the law on how disability for shoulder injuries is awarded to benefit the injured worker. Finally, we have obtained multimillion dollar results for clients on a number of occasions. “RECOGNIZING A NEED IN THE COMMUNITY, I DEDICATED MYSELF TO DEVELOPING THE PERSONAL INJURY We’ve been here for almost seven decades, proudly advancing the field of law through complex, challenging cases for the sake of our clients. Our purpose is to be here when our clients need us — today and any day in the future. AND WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PART OF THE FIRM. ”

I dedicated myself to developing the personal injury and workers’ compensation part of the firm.

Between 1971 and 1976, other partners would join the firm, including my brother, Winston, but the next partner of the current era wouldn’t join our ranks until 1993. When we heard about how Elizabeth Klukas handled a complex asbestos litigation for a downstate law firm, we knew we needed her to join our team. In 2001, we experienced one of our most dramatic changes as our ever-growing firm reorganized. We broke off to focus exclusively on injury law and workers’ comp. Two years later, Thomas Manzella joined the firm, focusing on workers’ comp and injury law. In that time, Tom tried several complex cases and jury trials with fantastic results. It wasn’t long before he was named a partner in 2007, and he now focuses almost exclusively on injury law. When Bryan Shell joined the firm in 2009, he focused on workers’ comp cases. He, too, proved to be a hardworking attorney who obtained great results for his clients. It wasn’t long until he was named partner, and we entered a new chapter as Block, Klukas, Manzella & Shell, P.C. in 2014. Over the course of our long history, we’ve done more than change our name and buy new signs — we’ve participated in a number of landmark cases. We were the first firm in the United States

–Micha el Block

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3 Family Activities for Thanksgiving

Unless you have a child auditioning for “MasterChef Junior,” you’re probably not going to let the little ones cook the turkey this Thanksgiving. Just because the kitchen might be off limits, though, doesn’t mean you can’t find a few creative ways to make the holiday extra special for your kids. Spice up Thanksgiving with these fun, family- friendly activities.

To do this, use craft or art paper to cover the table. Tape everything down tightly and provide crayons and colored pencils for every place setting. If you want to add some extra holiday spirit, put the drawing supplies in empty cranberry sauce and pumpkin cans. Gratitude Mobiles Of course, Thanksgiving isn’t just about delicious food. It’s also about reflecting on the parts of our lives we are grateful for. Teaching kids about gratitude is the most valuable Thanksgiving lesson. Bring that concept to life with a gratitude mobile. Grab some colored paper circles — or cut them out — and have your children write down things that they are thankful for. A silver Sharpie is great for this. Punch holes in the tops of the circles and run string through them. Tie the other end of the string to a coat hanger or

embroidery hoop and hang it from the ceiling. Stuff the Turkey Game Want to get the kids outside so you can get to work in the kitchen? Create a Thanksgiving-themed game for them to play outside while you prep the stuffing and put the turkey in the oven. To create a holiday-themed “Stuff the Turkey” game, all you need is a few paper bags. We’ll bet you have some left over from shopping. Use two small bags stuffed with scrap paper to create legs and glue them to a larger bag folded to look like the body of a turkey. Now that you have your turkey, you need some balls to stuff it with. Anything soft and baseball-sized will work, even some balled-up paper. Kids will take turns trying to toss the balls into the turkey, scoring points for every shot made.

Coloring-Book Tablecloths If you have a big family, you are probably familiar with the Thanksgiving tradition of the kids’ table. It may be smaller

than the grown-ups’ seating arrangement, but it doesn’t have to be

any less special. Turn your kids’ table into a

canvas for a colorful, creative dining experience.

TESTIMONIAL “I would, and have, recommended this firm to my very best friends, my family, and to anyone who is in need of being represented in the most professional, knowledgeable, yet, kind manner! Their professional excellence is second to NONE!”

Your Referrals Are Very Important to Us

When you refer us, we want the person you referred to come back after their case and say, “I am so glad you told me about your attorney. They were so nice, and they took great care of me and my case. I never imagined I’d get such a great outcome. Thank you so much for telling me to call Block, Klukas, Manzella & Shell!” All of our attorneys have experience handling complex personal injury cases, ranging from wrongful death and animal attacks to construction accidents

and medical malpractice. We’ve seen how bad a case can be and know how frustrating it is when someone who has caused another person’s suffering tries to avoid taking responsibility. Our mission is to help people receive just compensation so they can recover from this challenging time.

-Charlene W.G.

Every case is different, and these results are not indicative of future results.

–Micha el Block

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In Case of Emergency How to Protect Yourself in a Personal Injury Case

• Dates you were admitted to the emergency room • Names and business addresses of all physicians who have examined or consulted with you • Names of all people who were involved in the accident • Names and addresses of witnesses to the accident • Dates you missed work because of the accident • Name and telephone number of each insurance adjuster you talked to • List of people you talked to about the accident or your injuries Documents • Accident report • Copies of any written statements • Photos, video, or audio taken at the scene • Your auto insurance policy (if you were injured in a car accident) • You homeowners or renters insurance policy (if you were injured on the premises)

• Other party’s insurance info • Your journal or notes regarding the accident • Medical or disability insurance policy • Medical bills • Repair Invoices • W-2 forms (to show wages lost) • All correspondence (emails, letters, phone transcripts) that you receive from any insurance provider about the accident or your injuries Though you do not need every piece of evidence listed here, keeping a detailed record of events and fully documenting your medical history is vital to the success of your case. In the event of an accident, you’re first move should be to contact your personal injury attorney. They can help determine what documents and information you need to build your case. If you fail to document your treatment and collect the necessary evidence, you may be denied compensation.

Being thrown into a personal injury case is unpleasant, to say the least. The shock of the accident, your physical pain, the pressure of medical bills, and the stress of missing work combine to form a dire situation. When you’re injured due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation to help alleviate some of the stress. However, it is up to you and your attorney to prove liability and damages. To build your case and get the compensation you deserve, you must collect evidence. Information • Name and address of ambulance service • Name and address of the emergency room where you were initially taken

SUDOKU

BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH SAUSAGE

Grid n°2116 easy

1 3 9

8

9 6 8 2 4

1 6

1 7 3 4 8 8

7 2

INGREDIENTS

• • •

2 tablespoons olive oil

• •

1/2 cup water Salt and pepper

3 1/3 ounces fresh, hot Italian sausage

3 1 9 7 8 6

1 1/2 pounds Brussels sprouts

DIRECTIONS

8

1.

Trim sprouts and cut in half.

2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sausage and cook, stirring occasionally, 3–5 minutes. 3. Add sprouts to skillet. Add 1/2 cup water. Add salt and pepper. Cover and cook 10 minutes or until just tender. Check them periodically and add a bit more water, if necessary. 4. When sprouts are just about done, remove cover and raise heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring just once or twice, for a couple more minutes. The liquid should evaporate, and the sprouts should start to brown. 5. Add more salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot or warm. Recipe courtesy of InTheKitchenWithKath.com

We have all the free sudokus you need! 400 new sudokus every week. Make your own free printable sudoku at www.PrintMySudoku.com

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INSIDE

1. The Test of Time 2. 3 Family Activities for Thanksgiving 3. Don’t Sabotage Your Personal Injury Case 4. Iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons

Iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons

not only a Thanksgiving staple but also the world’s largest parade. Over 3.5 million people attended the parade last year, with another 20 million tuning in from home. The main attraction is always the massive character balloons, which first graced the skies in 1927. Over the decades, some of these balloons have become nearly as famous as the character they depict. Felix the Cat When the Felix the Cat balloon appeared in 1931, it set the standard for all characters to follow. Sadly, the original balloon got tangled in wires and caught on fire, so it has been lost to history. Felix’s influence on the parade is so immense, however, that when Macy’s brought him back in 2016 for the parade’s 90th anniversary, they recreated his original design. Without Felix’s debut, the parade might look a lot different today.

Snoopy When it comes to balloon characters, none is more famous than the classic “Peanuts” beagle. His first balloon floated through the sky in 1968, and he’s been a regular fixture ever since. Charles Schultz’s famous pooch holds the record for most variations in a parade (eight) and most total appearances (40). Though Snoopy doesn’t come out every year, he usually closes the show when he does. Pikachu The Pokémon mascot didn’t appear until 2001, but he’s become a star attraction, showing up every year since. Bright, expressive, and impossible to miss, Pikachu checks off all the boxes for a successful balloon character. For 16 years, those who predicted that Pokémon was just a fad have gotten a big, yellow reminder of just how wrong they were.

Thanksgiving is a holiday full of traditions, from turkey and stuffing to football and naps. Since 1924, the Macy’s Parade has grown to become

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