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Fax: 312-855-1792
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Kristin Capiak.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Direct Dial: 312-596-4972
Brian J. Koch
Partner
Areas of Practice
Summary
Brian is a partner in the Worker’s Compensation Defense Practice at Wiedner & McAuliffe’s Chicago office. In his practice, Brian strives to expedite cases where possible, helping clients avoid exposure to potentially expensive protracted litigation. A recent analysis conducted by a client revealed that Brian and his Wiedner & McAuliffe colleagues handled and closed claims 150 days sooner than the national average among the client’s other legal representation.
Brian graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science in Advertising. He earned his Juris Doctor from DePaul University College of Law in 1997.
Before joining Wiedner & McAuliffe, Brian served as Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago, prosecuting cases in the Traffic Court Division. Brian later became an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Illinois from 1998 through 2000. As a member of the Consumer Fraud Bureau of the Attorney General's Springfield and Chicago offices, Brian prosecuted violators of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Processes Act.
Industry Contributions
Brian has been a guest lecturer for the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, speaking on the topic of workers’ compensation defense. He has also addressed the Kane County Bar Association on the effective analysis and interpretation of the Illinois healthcare providers’ medical fee schedules.
As a member of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce Committee on Workers’ Compensation, Brian updates Illinois businesses on the latest Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission rulings, advising how the rulings might impact day-to-day business operations.
Brian also educates Illinois companies on how to minimize litigation, project budgets, and contain workers’ compensation costs.
Notable Cases
Whitesel v. Tri-City Metal, 08 IWCC 0489: Brian saved a client nearly $1 million when an Appellate Court ruling overturned the Circuit Court of Kane County’s decision to reinstate a wage differential award originally denied by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission.
Barker v. City of Burbank, 07 WC 1583: Brian successfully defended the City of Burbank when an employee brought a claim alleging hearing loss caused by his work as a paramedic/firefighter.
Mony Brown v. Motel 6, 05 WC 7705: Brian secured a settlement of $72,000 and annuity for one-sixth of estimated future medical costs in a claim with projected future medical expenses totaling $3.2 million.
Johnson v. IBC, 05 WC 40022: Brian’s presentation of expert medical testimony and detailed cross examination of the petitioner’s treating physician helped a client completely avoid exposure to a workers’ compensation claim in excess of $1.4 million when the Arbitrator found that the petitioner did not prove that his injury was work-related.
Professional Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- Illinois State Bar Association
- Will County Bar Association
- Kane County Bar Association
- Workers' Compensation Lawyers' Association
Bar and Court Admissions
IllinoisEducation
J.D., DePaul University College of Law, 1997B.S., University of Illinois-Champaign, 1993
| Attorneys | Brian J. Koch
