Douglas A. Colby | Attorney

As a young law student in 1980, Douglas A. Colby began his professional career as a law clerk at Anesi, Ozmon, Rodin Novak & Kohen, Ltd.  Upon graduation in 1982, he joined the firm as an associate attorney.  Over the next 25 years, Doug has earned a national reputation as an expert in Workers' Compensation law, devoting his practice exclusively to protecting the interests of seriously injured workers.  As managing partner of the firm's Workers' Compensation Department, Doug handles some of the most challenging cases, often creating new case law.  Doug has close relationships with Northern Illinois' trade unions and has been able to demonstrate the value of Anesi Ozmon as a unified Personal Injury and Workers' Compensation firm providing continuous representation.

In addition to serving his own clients, Doug relishes the collaborative hallway consultation among the attorneys at Anesi Ozmon.  As a firm leader, he provides insight and guidance to the firm's experienced attorneys in their more difficult cases and teaches younger associates the techniques required to be effective litigators in the field.

Doug's recent verdict & settlement highlights, all since 2000, include:  

• $12,000,000 settlement in favor of a catastrophically injured worker.
• $645,000.00 settlement on a totally disputed case for a laborer who had an unwitnessed fall off a ladder sustaining a brain injury.
• $600,000+ award for a school administrator who died as a result of mental stress.
• $335,000.00 lump sum settlement for a truck driver who was severely injured after being run over at a gas station.  
• $250,000 lump sum settlement for a union ironworker with a knee injury requiring an arthroscopic procedure.
• $250,000.00 settlement for a Local #1 ironworker with a knee and back injury.
• $222,500.00 settlement for an electrician with an operated shoulder. 
• $215,000 for a handicap-accessible home and van for a union ironworker who became paralyzed after a fall.
• $200,000+ award for a construction worker injured in a fall but denied Workers' Compensation.
• $200,000.00 lump sum settlement for a Local #1 ironworker with an unoperated back injury.
• $195,000 for a handicap-accessible home and van for a union ironworker who became paralyzed after a fall.
• $190,000 received for a union electrician who sustained a tendon and nerve injury to his thumb.
• $170,000 for a handicap-accessible home and van for a union roofer who became paralyzed after a fall.

Although home modification and/or purchase of handicap accessible homes for wheelchair bound clients are not provided for by the Workers' Compensation Act, Doug has successfully argued that it was contemplated by the legislature.  He is well recognized for his ability to procure these types of settlements for his catastrophically injured clients.

Doug has frequently spoken and written on the topics of Workers' Compensation and Personal Injury law and is a member of the Chicago Bar Association Workers' Compensation Committee, the Workers' Compensation Committee of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and the Workers' Compensation Lawyers Association.

"In order to be successful as an individual representing injured parties, you must have compassion, drive, intelligence, and probably most important, a willingness to do that which is right.  We at Anesi, Ozmon, Rodin, Novak & Kohen, Ltd. not only possess each of the aforementioned qualities, but also understand that success is only achieved when it is realized."