Kenneth J. Allen & Associates, P.C.
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Those three words best describe the driving forces behind Kenneth J. Allen & Associates. Our firm is devoted exclusively to the practice of Accident and Injury Law, and exclusively to the people – not corporations – seriously hurt or killed in incidents as varied as on-the-job accidents, semi-truck crashes, injuries from a defective product, or loss of life because of a doctor’s medical malpractice.
As the only multi-state law firm in Chicagoland accepting serious injury and wrongful death cases, exclusively, Kenneth J. Allen & Associates is experienced and knowledgeable in the details and procedures that can make or break a case. Although there is a growing aversion nationwide to large jury verdicts, Kenneth J. Allen & Associates has been successful in conveying a simple fact to juries, insurance companies and at-fault corporations: Lawsuits cover real costs that real people incur when they are seriously hurt by the negligent or irresponsible behavior of others – costs they would not face if they had never been injured. The costs, when accurately and judiciously tallied to account for medical inflation and quality of life issues, can be staggering.
Kenneth J. Allen & Associates carefully screens each potential case before taking it on, and one of the key questions the firm seeks to answer affirmatively is, “Will a greater good be served?” We seek not only to compensate our clients, but to prevent tragedies from happening in the future.
Let Kenneth J. Allen & Associates serve your legal needs.
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Burned ArcelorMittal worker seeks $55M
BY KEN KOSKY
http://www.nwi.com/articles/2008/08/30/news/porter_county/doc50d36aac0be03b7d862574b4007e8050.txt
219.548.4354 | Saturday, August 30, 2008 |
One of the workers who was badly burned by flames in a molten steel accident a year ago at ArcelorMittal's Burns Harbor plant filed a lawsuit Friday seeking more than $55 million.
The worker, Jeremy Schoon, 31, of Valparaiso, filed the lawsuit before Chief Lake Superior Court Judge John Pera.
Attorney Kenneth J. Allen, whose firm is representing Schoon, said Schoon has incurred more than $1 million in medical bills and is physically and emotionally scarred for life as a result of being burned on 60 percent of his body. Allen seeks at least $5 million in personal and monetary damages and at least $50 million in punitive damages.
"As the mills make record profits, death and injury to steel workers continues to increase. Something needs to be done to stop it," Allen said. "The goal of our suit is to send a message to the steel mills and the contractors they hire: Change your business model. Put worker safety first, above increased profits, not the other way around. This is an especially important message on Labor Day."
The lawsuit targets ArcelorMittal; EQ Engineers, which did design work at the facility; and Graycor Industrial Constructors, Inc., which constructed EQ's design work.
Schoon was one of seven workers burned Aug. 28, 2007, when flames and molten steel shot out of a basic oxygen furnace. Although the victims were wearing protective clothing, the heat was so intense they were burned.
Allen said companies like ArcelorMittal should be using some of their record profits to increase safety, but he said safety is actually decreasing.
Schoon's wife, Veronica Schoon, said her husband's life is forever changed, as daily stretching, medication and therapeutic baths consume his time.
She said the hardest thing for her husband is "not being able to do with the children what he's always done."
The Schoons have three children, ages 2, 7 and 10. Veronica Schoon said her husband, who was hospitalized for about a month, is back to work, but in an office because he must be in a temperature controlled environment for the rest of his life.
"It's been hard," Veronica Schoon said, crying.
Allen said Schoon is the first of the seven injured men to file suit, but he expects others to follow.
A spokesperson for ArcelorMittal did not return calls seeking comment.
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