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Chicago Employment Law Firm

Have You Been Taken Advantage Of By Your Employer?

Hiring the right employment lawyer can be the difference between success and failure. Because the stakes are so high in employment law cases, employers will fight tooth-and-nail to avoid paying back pay, penalties, fines, fees, and attorney costs. Our employment law attorneys have been there and have successfully represented employees who need and deserve to get their money.

You worked for your wages in good faith; now, let us help you get you the pay you deserve.

Employment Law

Talk To An Employment Attorney Before Making Any Decisions

The decisions employees make while they are employed can have a great impact on the outcome of any labor complaint or employment lawsuit.

Employees may also file a complaint with the Illinois Department of Labor to get their unpaid wages. In order to file with the Illinois Department of Labor, employees must act within five years of when the original claim arose.

In some cases, lawsuits for unpaid wages and overtime on behalf of many employees may be brought as a collective action. A collective action can reduce employer retaliation, since an entire class of workers is involved in a lawsuit rather than a single employee.

Most clients have questions about the steps they need to take, if any, including:

  • What are my rights?
  • Do I have a legal claim?
  • What facts would support a legal claim?

While the federal minimum wage is currently set at $7.25 per hour, Illinois state law requires employers to provide a minimum of $8.25 per hour. In employment law cases involving wage and hour violations in Illinois, every employee is entitled to file a private and civil employment lawsuit to recover:

  • Unpaid wages
  • Penalties
  • Punitive damages
  • Attorneys fees and costs
  • Reinstatement

We Win Cases

$4,450,000

Settlement
Automobile Accident

An Iraqi war veteran sustained fatal injuries after striking a pothole while riding his motorcycle in the City of Chicago.

$1,900,000

Settlement
Auto Accident

26 year old was killed in a devastating multi-car semi-truck collision.

$1,700,000

Settlement
Auto Accident

A motorcyclist seriously injured his legs when he was struck by an SUV.

$1,250,000

Settlement
Auto Accident

Three brothers were involved in a major car accident resulting in surgery and broken bones.

$800,000

Settlement
Auto Accident

Female passenger sustained a devastating ankle injury when a semi-truck made an improper left turn in front of her vehicle.

$1,200,000

Settlement
Construction Accident

A union electrician suffered a non-displaced SLAP tear of the right shoulder in a residential construction accident.

$2,550,000

Settlement
Construction Accident

A union electrician sustained multiple orthopedic injuries after falling from a lift.

$3,545,546.32

Binding Arbitration Award
Construction Accident

A 66-year-old concrete laborer suffered a deadly fall while working on a housing development project.

$8,000,000

Settlement
Other

A union cement mason was fatally injured while trying to help an injured friend off a ladder on the friend’s…

$540,000

Settlement
Workers' Compensation

A 38-year-old union carpenter suffered a significant back injury while lifting an aluminum joist.

$500,000

Settlement
Workers' Compensation

A 55-year-old construction worker required right shoulder replacement surgery after a jobsite fall.

$425,000

Settlement
Workers' Compensation

A union foreman electrician sustained a neck injury with permanent work restrictions after moving a 1000-pound master bundle of pipes.

$242,657.57

Award
Workers' Compensation

A 60-year-old union carpenter injured his knee and back while working on a remodeling job.

$4,030,000

Settlement
Other

A temp agency employee had several fingers partially amputated while operating a power press at a fabrication plant.

$1,000,000

Settlement
Other

A 3-year-old boy was tragically killed in a fire in a rental home with faulty electrical wiring.

$8,000,000

Settlement
Construction Accident

A union tuckpointer was fatally injured in a lift tipover accident.

$13,750,000

Settlement
Construction Accident

A tuckpointer suffered a brain injury in a scaffold collapse.

$62,500

Settlement
Workers' Compensation

An employee of a staffing agency slipped on oil and tore his rotator cuff. After surgery, the injured worker was…

$77,500

Settlement
Other

On behalf of woman bit by dog. GWC accepted this case and was able to successfully negotiate a settlement of…

$81,000

Settlement
Other

Our client suffered leg injuries (no fractures) and was initially offered under $40,000. GWC injury lawyer Mr. Timothy Keiser took…

$95,000

Settlement
Other

On behalf of a woman who sustained wrist fracture falling into sinkhole on village parkway.

$100,000

Settlement
Other

Our client fell on carpet in her own office. Prior to contacting GWC, the victim did not receive any compensation…

$185,000

Settlement
Other

A man tripped over a broken parking block and sustained broken orbital bone.

$600,000

Settlement
Other

Attorneys Louis A Cairo and Bradley Barker helped the family of an 85 year old man receive compensation for injuries…

$3,700,000

Settlement
Other

An infant boy suffered an above the knee amputation due to the negligent acts of the hospital and a number…

$77,000

Settlement
Workers' Compensation

A Union Waste management driver suffered a labral tear and also developed issues in the elbow both of which required…

$10,730,000

Settlement
Other

Chicago neighborhood exposed to toxic smoke from the ACME Barrel facility.

$252,000

Settlement
Workers' Compensation

A 58 y.o operating engineer fell of a ladder and was seriosuly injured. His injuries required three years of medical…

$174,243

Settlement
Workers' Compensation

This case involved a machine operator that was tried and settled over a disputed wage loss due to restrictions that…

$175,000

Settlement
Workers' Compensation

A carpenter suffered a left shoulder injury that resulted in two surgeries and permanent restrictions. The lawyers at GWC obtained…

$85,000

Settlement
Workers' Compensation

Our client is a spanish-speaking only teacher aide with a low rate who suffered a knee injury at work. Despite…

$120,000

Settlement
Workers' Compensation

A 22 y.o worker that received her income mostly from tips broke her tib/fib in a work place accident. While…

$210,000

Settlement
Workers' Compensation

Our client was a carpenter that suffered a lower back injury that did not require surgery but resulted in permanent…

$135,000

Settlement
Workers' Compensation

A 40 year old iron worker fell from a faulty ladder while on a job site. GWC successfully obtained $135,000…

$214,777

Settlement
Workers' Compensation

A sheet metal worker suffered a lower back injury that resulted in permanent restrictions after two surgeries.

$225,000

Settlement
Workers' Compensation

A sheet metal worker sustained a left wrist and hand injury while using a hammer drill.

$225,000

Settlement
Workers' Compensation

The foot of a laborer was run over by a co-worker that was operating a back hoe. The injuries to…

$240,800

Settlement
Workers' Compensation

A stationary engineer slipped on a ladder and grabbed onto a pipe to prevent falling. Our client sustained a cervical…

$242,000

Settlement
Workers' Compensation

A 39 year old local #1 laborer felt a pop while he was pulling up some carpeting on a job.…

$140,000

Settlement
Workers' Compensation

A 41 year old factory worker suffered a back injury while lifting work materials. Both the injury and the accident…

$275,000

Settlement
Workers' Compensation

An ironworker fell at work and injured his lower back that required a two-level disc replacement. In addition to the…

$278,000

Settlement
Workers' Compensation

A 60 year old carpenter fell from a trailer while unloading work materials and injured his non-dominant left arm. While…

$280,000

Settlement
Workers' Compensation

The team at GWC obtained $280,000 settlement for a 61 year old electrician that sustained a serious shoulder injury while…

$285,000

Settlement
Workers' Compensation

Our client was a laborer that sustained a serious lower back injury that required surgery. The injury resulted in the…

$300,000

Settlement
Workers' Compensation

Injured electrician and IBEW member. Employer disputed injured electrician’s need for a knee replacement and case went to trial. The…

$310,000

Settlement
Workers' Compensation

A 39 year old laborer sustained a back injury that required two surgical procedures. The Petitioner found alternative employment out…

$147,000

Settlement
Workers' Compensation

A window installed stepped off a customer’s porch and injured his left knee. His injury developed into arthritis which prevented…

$398,000

Settlement
Workers' Compensation

A 43 year old sheet metal worker sustained multiple injuries after falling at work.

$4,050,000

Settlement
Construction Accident

An electrician suffered severe electrical burns when an aluminum street light pole that his employer was installing hit a power…

$81,000

Settlement
Workers' Compensation

An over the road truck driver sustained a serious neck injury when his truck went over a bump on I-57…

$125,000

Settlement
Workers' Compensation

The Petitioner – a CTA bus driver – accidentally ran over a pedestrian who fell into the bus path. The…

$315,000

Settlement
Workers' Compensation

A construction worker handling heavy pipeline seriously injured his back while lifting a pipe. He required severla surgeries and eventually…

$315,000

Settlement
Workers' Compensation

Our client was a pipeline construction worker that seriously injured his back while lifting a pipe. He underwent numerous surgeries…

$346,000

Settlement
Workers' Compensation

A carpenter fell while at work and sustained a cervical injury. The settlement that GWC negotiated included a funds set-aside…

$5,800,000

Settlement
Auto Accident

A mother was the sole survivor of van crash succumbed to catastrophic injuries.

$5,500,000

Settlement
Auto Accident

A mother and daughter suffered multiple injuries in an auto accident when another car disobeyed a stop sign.

$4,400,000

Settlement
Auto Accident

A male driver suffered a fatal accident as a result of a semi-truck driver swerving his truck into west bound…

$435,000

Settlement
Auto Accident

An automobile driver sustained aggravation of preexisting degenerative neck condition that necessitated surgery.

$295,000

Settlement
Auto Accident

An elderly woman was knocked down by a cab and sustained a broken leg.

$3,260,370.96

Settlement
Construction Accident

A union ironworker suffered significant injuries to his right rotator cuff and left knee after falling at a construction site.

$3,600,000

Verdict
Construction Accident

A sheet metal worker suffered a mild, disputed brain injury in a fall from a 12-foot stepladder while connecting pieces…

$3,600,000

Settlement
Construction Accident

A carpenter suffered a fatal fall through metal decking due to another contractor partially cutting decking and leaving the area…

$100,000

Settlement
Auto Accidents

A policy limits settlement on behalf of a pedestrian that was struck by a car while crossing street at night.

$3,750,000

Settlement
Construction Accident

The wife of a laborer who had fallen to his death in an unwitnessed construction incident settled her wrongful death…

$3,750,000

Settlement
Construction Accident

A laborer died following a construction fall.

$3,900,000

Settlement
Construction Accident

An ironworker suffered multiple fractures from a 35-foot fall out of a lift truck while not using his safety lanyard.

$550,000

Settlement
Workers' Compensation

GWC attorney Joel Block helped to secure more than $550,000 for the injuries sustained by a carpenter after he slipped…

$8,000,000

Settlement
Auto Accident

A male driver sustained a traumatic brain injury after a truck from a major trucking company collided with his vehicle.

$579,000

Settlement
Workers' Compensation

A sheet metal worker suffered significant injuries and was eventually placed on permanent sedentary work restrictions.

$4,100,000

Settlement
Construction Accident

An electrician suffered a serious knee injury when a piece of construction equipment became dislodged in a trailer and fell…

$4,350,000

Settlement
Construction Accident

A laborer suffered serious head injuries from an eleven-foot fall off of a job-built ladder on a construction project.

$4,500,000

Settlement
Construction Accident

A sheet metal worker suffered multiple leg and facial fractures in a 20-foot fall off of an iron beam when…

$4,500,000

Settlement
Construction Accident

A Local 1 ironworker agreed to settle his case as his attorneys were preparing to select the jury.

$4,500,000

Settlement
Construction Accident

An ironworker sustained injuries when he fell 11 feet off a block wall.

$4,650,000

Settlement
Construction Accident

A laborer suffered a fatal accident at a construction site during a violent storm.

$5,290,000

Verdict
Construction Accident

An electrical lineman suffered severe electrical burns at a construction site accident.

$5,300,000

Settlement
Construction Accident

An electrician was killed after sustaining burns in a switchgear explosion.

$8,300,000

Verdict
Construction Accident

A bricklayer fell thirty feet after an unsupported walking plank gave way.

$8,500,000

Settlement
Construction Accident

A carpenter was killed when he was struck by a beam after a wall collapsed.

$10,050,000

Settlement
Construction Accident

A carpenter was killed in a 100-foot fall into an elevator pit.

$11,000,000

Settlement
Construction Accident

An ironworker fell from a one-story roof and was rendered a partial quadriplegic.

$13,730,000

Settlement
Construction Accident

A laborer suffered extensive burns over 80% of his body.

Employer Retaliation

At GWC, our clients often come to us for legal assistance when they are sick and tired of being taken advantage of by their employers. Many clients have also delayed seeking legal help because they were afraid that their employer would retaliate against them by firing them, reducing their pay, or changing their hours and making work unpleasant.

Employers are prohibited from retaliation, and the first thing that our employment lawyers tell new clients is that their employer cannot retaliate against them for filing an employment discrimination lawsuit or a lawsuit for unpaid wages whether it is in Illinois civil courts or through the EEOC and the IDHR.

If the employer does attempt to retaliate, the employer will face new legal claims for violating state and federal laws that prohibit employer retaliation.

At GWC, our highly trained investigators lay the groundwork for our aggressive employment lawyers. In some cases, when an employer is clearly engaging in widespread violations, we find that representing multiple employees who all have the same claims is the best way to represent a client. By working with knowledgeable employment violation attorneys, you can get the justice that you deserve.

Contact Our Chicago Employment Lawyers

Hiring the right employment lawyer can be the difference between success and failure.

Because the stakes are so high in employment law cases, employers will fight tooth-and-nail to avoid paying back pay, penalties, fines, fees, and attorney costs.

Our employment law attorneys have been there and have successfully represented employees who need and deserve to get their money.

You worked for your wages in good faith; now, let us help you get you the pay you deserve.

Contact us today in the manner most convenient for you.

Call 1-312-464-1234
Talk to a professional via Live Chat 24/7.
Fill out the Free Case Evaluation form.

Filing an Employment Discrimination Lawsuit

When an employer violates state or federal employment laws, employees can file complaints with Illinois employment and labor agencies.

Employers that have more than 15 employees are governed by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Illinois antidiscrimination state laws.

In Illinois, workplace discrimination is jointly governed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR).

Employment discrimination on the following bases is prohibited in Illinois:

  • Race
  • Color
  • National Origin
  • Religion
  • Sex and Pregnancy
  • Disability: Physical or Mental
  • Age (40 and Older)
  • Genetic Information
  • Marital Status
  • Sexual Orientation
  • Citizenship Status
  • Military Status
  • Unfavorable Military Discharge
  • Gender Identity
  • Arrest Record
  • Victims of Domestic Violence

 

Employment discrimination lawsuits can be filed with the EEOC or the IDHR. Employees who feel that they have been discriminated against on the basis of a prohibited class can file with either agency and indicate that they are cross-filing in order to ensure that both agencies work together to resolve discrimination claims.

Since the IDHR does not allow Illinois employees to file a private lawsuit, discrimination claims that are valid will be filed with the IDHR and not in traditional civil court. Illinois-based discrimination claims must be filed within six months of the discriminatory act.

Additionally or alternatively, employees may file complaints with federal agencies. Finally, employees may also pursue their claims in state and federal civil courts after either exhausting administrative remedies or directly bypassing them in some circumstances.

Discrimination claims under federal law must be filed with the EEOC within six months of the discrimination. While hiring an attorney is not required to file under the administrative agencies, most employees often do not have the resources or knowledge to adequately pursue these cases on their own. A qualified employment lawyer, on the other hand, can make a world of difference.

Our employment lawyers advise any employees who are considering an employment lawsuit to consult with a knowledgeable employment lawyer before resigning from a position.

Employment Law Cases We Handle

GWC employment lawyers help employees file discrimination cases.

There are numerous state and federal laws that govern employee rights in Illinois, but this does not prevent employers from continuing to steal their employees’ wages.

The laws exist to ensure that employers do not violate the constitutional and legal rights of workers in our state.

Our firm helps employees file discrimination lawsuits that involve violations of all relevant state and federal labor laws and regulations, including:

  • Civil Rights Act (Title VII)
  • Fair Labor Standards Act
  • Age Discrimination in Employment Act
  • Equal Pay Act
  • Illinois Human Rights Act
  • Family Medical Leave Act

As a plaintiff firm, we help everyday working residents of our state get the wages and benefits they deserve in a healthy, safe, and legal work environment. GWC;s employment lawyers devote their time to upholding these employment laws in the face of unscrupulous employers.

We handle the following employment law and labor violation cases:

  • Wage and Hour Violations
  • Third-Party Claims
  • Wrongful Termination
  • Family and Medical Leave Act
  • Whistleblower Actions
  • Sexual Harassment
  • Disability Discrimination
  • Pregnancy Discrimination
  • Racial Discrimination
  • Age Discrimination
  • Unemployment Benefit Appeals

 

If you suspect that your employer is violating one or more state or federal employment laws and regulations, you should not hesitate to protect your rights by contacting an employment law firm.

Unions We Have Proudly Represented