Michael Hersh Korein | Belleville Workers' Compensation Lawyer

• Member American Trial Lawyers Association; Member and Work Comp Committee Member Illinois Trial Lawyers Association; Member New York Bar Association; Member Missouri Bar Association; Member- Illinois Bar Association; Member- Workplace Injury Litigation Group; Member Association for Soccer Education and Training; Former Board Member and Youth Facilitator - Youth Lifeline America; Former Wealth Management Board Member - Allegiant Bank; Holder of National Soccer Coaching D License by US Soccer Federation; Former Club Trainer/Coach - St. Louis Scott Gallagher Select Soccer Club; Head Coach - St. Louis Maccabi Games Soccer teams; Former Head Coach - Parkway Central Middle School soccer feeder program; Former Head Coach - Gators Futball (Soccer) Club; Member - United Hebrew Congregation; Member - St. Louis Jewish Community Center; Member - Southern Illinois Jewish Federation; Member St. Clair County Bar Association

• Best Lawyers in Workers Compensation Best Lawyers in America
  2014
• Leading Lawyer in Illinois Workers Compensation Leading Lawyers
  2014
• AV Peer Review Rating of firm by peers Martindale-Hubbell
  2014
• Best Lawyers in Workers Compensation St. Louis Magazine
  2014
• Best Lawyers in Workers Compensation Chicago Law Bulletin
  2014

Brown v. Kraft Foods/Capri Sun (12 IWCC 1183)- Pouch machine operator claimed repetitive/cumulative injuries arising from work activities. Employer highly disputed correlation between work activities and any upper extremity conditions via incomplete video of job, defense examiner opinion based on incomplete information, and testimony of two company supervisors. Key issue in dispute was how often machines would jam requiring injured worker to reach into machine and forcefully remove jammed material. Claimant presented testimony of maintenance man, former maintenance man, and pouch machine operator of 25 plus years, all of whom confirmed machines routinely jammed throughout every shift and that operators were required to exert significant force on regular basis to unjam machines. Arbitrator opined that the job of a pouch machine operator, as a matter of law, is repetitive/cumulative and strenuous as it relates to upper extremity conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome. Commission affirmed.

I built my practice by asking to speak at union meetings once I moved to the area. At the time I moved back from New York, the Illinois legislature was entertaining the idea of amending the Illinois Work Comp Act in a way that would seriously jeopardize the rights of injured workers. I brought this to the attention of a number of unions and was able to get over 10,000 union members to sign individual letters which I sent to Springfield. This helped defeat the bill. By educating union members about these proposed changes, I also established a rapport and gained their trust such that they knew I would do everything in my power to assist them or those they knew with a work injury case.

I believe the only stupid question is the one a person doesn't ask. A lawyer is a counselor for his or her clients and should be accessible and kind. A client should feel comfortable asking their attorney any question they need answered. If a client views me as unapproachable, they should probably fire me and find someone with whom they feel comfortable and confident. My job is to be (1) a sounding board for their troubles; (2) a person who gently tells them what they need to hear, even if it is not what they want to hear; (3) the best advocate for their needs; (4) more prepared than my opponent; and (5) available, even away from work, if they need to reach me in an emergency.

Knowing the geographic area and familiarity with local witnesses/resources is important. Having grown up in Belleville, Illinois; having played soccer throughout St. Clair County, Madison County, and the State of Illinois; and having worked summers in Granite City, Belleville, and East St. Louis has been helpful in broadening the scope of people I know and resources I have developed. That experience and familiarity works to the benefit of my clients.

I use this as a tool to help a caller get an idea of what he or she needs to do in order to have a successful claim, even if they are not seeking an attorney to hire. Simply listening to an injured worker in a free call helps put them at ease, allows me to understand the complexities of the claim, provide suggestions to them on how they might wish to proceed, and, most importantly, helps me determine if I am able to help them. If their legal issue is beyond the scope of what I do, it also affords me the opportunity to steer them in the right direction.

I need to know the when, where, what, and how the injury happened; with whom they are treating; to whom at work they gave notice of injury; whether they ever had another injury or medical condition associated with the claimed injury/body part injured and, if so, how long it has been since they last treated for the previous injury/condition; what happened that caused them to seek an attorney (claim denied, trouble getting weekly checks, pushy claims adjuster, employer refusing to submit accident report to insurance); and what are their expectations in hiring a lawyer to see if I believe I can help them or at least educate them if I think their expectation is beyond the remedy the law provides.

I grew up in Belleville and have many contacts in the area, but also lived in New York City in the beginning of my legal career and saw how corporate America works. I worked as a corporate attorney in my early years of law practice before representing injured individuals. I believe that corporate exposure allowed me to see how impersonal companies are about their workforce. Conversely, I started working at the age of 15 in my dad's plaintiffs personal injury law practice. I was raised with an acute sense of how injured workers get treated unjustly and taught the importance of stepping up and helping someone who cannot help themselves. I volunteered at Legal Services of Eastern Missouri and Legal Aid during all three years of law school, while holding a job, and while carrying a full load in class, all of which required a tremendous work ethic. I know the law, I have compassion for those I represent, and I will not be outworked on a case by my opponent.

I feel rewarded when I am able to help a family get back to some sense of normalcy and allow them to move on with their lives after having experienced a situation they did not ask for, one that was traumatic and disruptive to their lives, and one in which fear of the unknown was lurking at their door. I also feel rewarded when I am just able to listen to and reassure someone who has nowhere else to go with a specific problem that most people would not understand (dealing with the emotional component of any traumatic injury).

I am a huge soccer fan. I love coaching and training youth players and love to continue to play the game after 45 years as a player. I am also something of a work out nut and love to get into the gym as time permits. I enjoy time with my family, meditation, travel, working on being a better man, movies, and yard work.

I train and coach the St. Louis area Maccabi games soccer teams in international competition; served as a volunteer club trainer and youth coach for Scott Gallagher Select Soccer Club; sponsored and coached soccer through the Catholic Youth Counsel; coached basketball through the Jewish Community Center; coached youth softball; ran free youth speed and agility programs for area adolescents; served as a facilitator to inner city at risk youths through, and a board member of, Youth Lifeline America; donated athletic equipment to a local high school; donated soccer goals to a local elementary school; served as a tournament sponsor for area charities and soccer tournaments; and ran the after-school soccer feeder program for a local middle school to prepare players for high school. I also support local charity walks for various medical research.