COVID-19 Update May 1, 2020
Dear Friends and Clients,
We hope that this message finds you and your family safe and healthy. It has been more than six weeks since Cook County Courts closed for all but limited emergency matters per the order of the Chief Judge. I am writing to provide an update, alsotoday is our national observance of Law Day, May 1st.
Today an amended order was issued in which the Chief Judge ordered the courts to remain closed until June 1, 2020. This was expected following the Governor’s extension of the Stay-At-Home Order through the end of May. Pending dates for court appearances and trials are being handled in an orderly fashion and scheduling will resume in the June thru August time frame. Our calendar is updated daily.
In the meantime, the women and men at Morici, Longo & Associates have continued to work hard to pursue full compensation on behalf of all our clients. We have continued to talk to and correspond with many of you and your doctors. A friendly reminder, if you need to return interrogatory worksheets or provide us with doctors notes or copies of medical bills, please mail them. Our mail service has continued uninterrupted and mail is picked up and distributed to each lawyer and their staff daily. We have continued to settle cases where appropriate and finalize distributions to our clients. We have accepted additional clients and worked to advance all our clients’ matters.
If you have questions or wish to update us on your case or medical treatment, you can easily reach us by phone or email. Here is our contact information for your convenience:
E-Mail and Voice Mail Extensions:
(312-372-9600)
James J. Morici, Jr. - Ext 105; Morici@moricilongo.com
Corina Valadez - Ext. 104; Valadez@moricilongo.com
Patti Naujokas - Ext. 133; Patti@moricilongo.com
Robert H. Butzow - Ext. 106; Butzow@moricilongo.com
Lupe Cortez - Ext. 108; Cortez@moricilongo.com
Jennifer Ross - Ext. 101; Ross@moricilongo.com
Lisa M. Longo - Ext. 136; Longo@moricilongo.com
Kinga Koziarska - Ext. 102; Kinga@moricilongo.com
Kenneth Lubinski - Ext. 115; Lubinski@moricilongo.com
Amber Petracek - Ext. 112; Amber@moricilongo.com
Monica Favela - Ext. 103; Favela@moricilongo.com
Taylor Brewer - Ext. 137; Brewer@moricilongo.com
LAW DAY 2020
I mentioned that today is Law Day in the United States and is an opportunity to commemorate and call to mind the cornerstones of our democracy: The Constitution, the right to vote, and our legal system. Originally declared by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on May 1, 1958, Law Day was codified on April 7, 1961 in a bill signed by President John F. Kennedy and has been observed continuously ever since.
Communist countries of the past celebrated May 1st as May Day or International Workers Day. In proclaiming the first Law Day, Eisenhower stated, “In a very real sense, the world no longer has a choice between force and law. If civilization is to survive it must choose the rule of law”. Each year the American Bar Association chooses a theme for the observance of Law Day. This year the theme is: “Your Vote, Your Voice, Our Democracy: The 19th Amendment at 100” This recognizes the anniversary of the constitutional amendment providing women the right to vote.
It is appropriate for every American to reflect upon that most precious right of citizenship. The right to vote. Especially important in this election year, is making sure that each voice is heard and that every vote is counted. We are all part of a great society. Our pledge concludes with the words “...with liberty and justice for all”. We, here at the firm, continue to do our level best to achieve that justice for you.
Be well, stay safe and God bless you,
Jim Morici
COVID-19 Update April 9, 2020
Morici, Longo & Associates - Working to protect our clients and our community
Dear Friends and Clients,
We hope that this Easter and holiday season finds you and your families healthy. With infections climbing and death tolls rising locally and nationally it’s just not in the nature of this firm to sit by and do nothing! We continue to aggressively represent our clients and offer our help to the seriously injured. In that regard, we are taking an aggressive approach to obtaining workers’ compensation benefits for workers who contract COVID-19 in the course of their employment. This can include first responders, medical providers, airline and transportation workers and others.
In addition, we have taken steps to help our nation and community. We have made donations to the Greater Chicago Food Depository and to the Illinois Food Bank through our trial lawyers organization. In addition, we have made a $10,000 donation to The American Red Cross and are continuing to support the Maine Township Food Pantry.
We hope, if you’re able, that you will help too.
Morici, Longo & Associates has made a donation of $10,000 to the Red Cross on behalf of the brave healthcare workers who are battling the coronavirus pandemic, many without adequate personal protective equipment (PPE). We are in awe of the nurses and doctors fighting COVID-19 on the frontlines each and every day and are happy to do our part in helping. Please join us in making a difference by donating here.
In the meantime our work in representing our clients and managing our cases goes on at a brisk clip. All of our attorneys and staff are working remotely. We have talked to all of you and have continued to talk to new clients. We have settled some cases and continue to prepare for trial in others. We all meet for a teleconference twice each day. Emails are being answered and phone calls are being returned. If you need to talk to us, please do not hesitate to reach out by phone or email.
E-Mail and Voice Mail Extensions:
(312-372-9600)
James J. Morici, Jr. - Ext 105; Morici@moricilongo.com
Corina Valadez - Ext. 104; Valadez@moricilongo.com
Patti Naujokas - Ext. 133; Patti@moricilongo.com
Robert H. Butzow - Ext. 106; Butzow@moricilongo.com
Lupe Cortez - Ext. 108; Cortez@moricilongo.com
Jennifer Ross - Ext. 101; Ross@moricilongo.com
Lisa M. Longo - Ext. 136; Longo@moricilongo.com
Kinga Koziarska - Ext. 102; Kinga@moricilongo.com
Kenneth Lubinski - Ext. 115; Lubinski@moricilongo.com
Amber Petracek - Ext. 112; Amber@moricilongo.com
Tomas Cabrera - Ext. 117; Cabrera@moricilongo.com
Monica Favela - Ext. 103; Favela@moricilongo.com
Taylor Brewer - Ext. 137; Brewer@moricilongo.com
The courts remain closed until at least May 18th and the court has continued to clarify the procedure for resetting court appearances and trials. When we are once again before the court, we will, as always, be prepared.
We hope that you, your families and friends weather this crisis. We will continue to do everything in our power to obtain for you full and complete compensation.
God Bless you all,
Jim Morici
COVID-19 Update March 26, 2020
MLA continues to aggressively represent our clients despite the pandemic
Clients and Friends,
I’m writing to update you on the state of affairs at MLA and our continuing response to the pandemic. When I last wrote it was to inform that the courts had closed and that we were beginning to use our technologies to distance from the office. The Circuit Court has issued two subsequent orders that have illuminated the path forward, so I wanted to update you.
Several questions arose following the March 15th order closing the courts for 30 days. They were answered in part by the Court’s following orders. On March 17th the court notified us that all court dates would be extended 8 weeks from the currently pending date. This primarily concerns the periodic 6-8 week case management status appearances we make on each lawsuit.
Subsequently, Illinoisans were essentially asked to shelter in place and the court issued a further amendment primarily addressing trial dates. That order on March 23d provided that trial dates through May 15th are converted to “Trial Setting Dates”. It is hoped that the new trial date would take place within 60 days, but that is aspirational and will have to comport with the schedules of the parties, witnesses, doctors and other lawyers. We will keep you informed.
In the meantime, MLA is working remotely. I really must stop here to commend our outstanding lawyers and staff members who have shown an extraordinary commitment to our firm and the clients it represents. The men and women of this firm have really risen to the occasion.
Working remotely over the last 4-5 days we have talked over the phone or communicated through email with nearly half, literally hundreds, of our clients. Whether to work on scheduling, check on medical records or bills or to just offer reassurance, everyone has been tremendous. I’m really proud of what our team has accomplished. Luckily, many opposing attorneys, insurance adjusters and expert witnesses have been near their phones. We have settled some cases, worked out some liens and filed some lawsuits. We continue to talk to new clients to see how we can help.
If you haven’t heard from us already, you will. If you need to reach us, we are just a phone call or email away. Thanks to a state-of-the-art phone system, new in 2019, and our remote access to our case management software we are able to do most any litigation related task. So, feel free to call or email. Our phone extensions and email addresses are conveniently located on the front page of our site at https://www.moricilongo.com/
E-Mail and Voice Mail Extensions:
(312-372-9600)
James J. Morici, Jr. - Ext 105; Morici@moricilongo.com
Corina Valadez - Ext. 104; Valadez@moricilongo.com
Patti Naujokas - Ext. 133; Patti@moricilongo.com
Robert H. Butzow - Ext. 106; Butzow@moricilongo.com
Lupe Cortez - Ext. 108; Cortez@moricilongo.com
Jennifer Ross - Ext. 101; Ross@moricilongo.com
Lisa M. Longo - Ext. 136; Longo@moricilongo.com
Kinga Koziarska - Ext. 102; Kinga@moricilongo.com
Kenneth Lubinski - Ext. 115; Lubinski@moricilongo.com
Amber Petracek - Ext. 112; Amber@moricilongo.com
Tomas Cabrera - Ext. 117; Cabrera@moricilongo.com
Monica Favela - Ext. 103; Favela@moricilongo.com
Taylor Brewer - Ext. 137; Brewer@moricilongo.com
I hope you and your families weather this crisis well. You can be assured that we at Morici, Longo & Associates will continue to do everything in our power to see that you receive the justice you deserve.
God Bless you all,
Jim Morici
COVID-19 Update March 19th, 2020
Dear friends and clients,
The world health crisis brought about by the coronavirus Covid-19 is of great concern to us all. We hope this writing finds you and your family well and we thank you for the trust you have placed in us as your personal injury and workers’ compensation law firm.
As we all endure the current impositions caused by the virus, we wanted to inform you of developments in the legal community and how we, as a firm, are addressing them. The Federal Court, the Circuit Court of Cook County and the surrounding counties as well as the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission have been ordered to substantially shut down for the coming 30 days.
In accordance with the CDC guidelines and our good judgment we will shift to substantially remote work beginning at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, March 18th, 2020. We will all be back in our offices as soon as possible.
In the meantime, our lawyers and staff members will be utilizing our communication technology (telephone, voicemail, and email), as well as our state-of-the-art case management software to answer your needs and to make certain that your legal matters continue to be aggressively pursued. We continue to work with our investigators, experts and your health care providers to advance your interests. In addition, we will continue to be in contact with the opposition in the defense firms and insurance companies in the prosecution of your case.
E-Mail and Voice Mail Extensions:
(312-372-9600)
James J. Morici, Jr. - Ext 105; Morici@moricilongo.com
Corina Valadez - Ext. 104; Valadez@moricilongo.com
Patti Naujokas - Ext. 133; Patti@moricilongo.com
Robert H. Butzow - Ext. 106; Butzow@moricilongo.com
Lupe Cortez - Ext. 108; Cortez@moricilongo.com
Jennifer Ross - Ext. 101; Ross@moricilongo.com
Lisa M. Longo - Ext. 136; Longo@moricilongo.com
Kinga Koziarska - Ext. 102; Kinga@moricilongo.com
Kenneth Lubinski - Ext. 115; Lubinski@moricilongo.com
Amber Petracek - Ext. 112; Amber@moricilongo.com
Tomas Cabrera - Ext. 117; Cabrera@moricilongo.com
Monica Favela - Ext. 103; Favela@moricilongo.com
Taylor Brewer - Ext. 137; Brewer@moricilongo.com
Our attorneys will be returning phone calls, voicemails and emails throughout the day. We will be working to reschedule temporarily delayed matters so that none of our clients are adversely affected. New matters will be addressed in accordance with our customary prompt attention.
In short, you can be assured that we at Morici, Longo & Associates will continue to do everything within our means to see that you receive the justice you deserve.
God bless you and keep you,
Jim,
Bob, Lisa,
Ken, Tomas, Taylor and
The MLA Team
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