135 S. LaSalle St., Ste. 2200 Chicago, IL 60603
3550 Hobson Rd., Ste. 403 Woodridge, IL 60517
312-578-9501 | www.shannonlawgroup.com MAY 2020
LET US RESPOND WITH FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE
members, Sidney Bottino, and her family have worked feverishly to continuously gather food for their local food bank. One of our youngest team members inspires us and reminds us that 99% of charitable work is done locally. Our hearts go out to our clients first and foremost, who are suffering from this quarantine in so many ways: unemployment, not being able to seek the medical treatment they need, and, most of all, loneliness. This crisis has been and continues to be a very rough ride. Just ask any restaurant, bar, movie theater, or any small-business owner. Heck, how about the airlines? What about the 20% who are unemployed? (And that number will likely rise.) Everyone and every business have been affected. History teaches us that, as Americans, we will not cave in to the challenge before us. No, we will respond with resilience. Over 100 years ago, our country was fighting a war in Europe. Thirty percent of our country’s doctors were overseas. At this critical point in our history, the Spanish flu killed 50 million people worldwide, including 675,000 Americans. How did our country respond? We finished the mission overseas to win World War I. We rebuilt our country and our economy. How will we respond? Let us have hope in our future. Let us have faith in our families and one another. But most of all, let us love one another and serve one another in this time of need.
As I write this column, we are entering our 35th day of quarantine. It feels like these last 35 days have been 35 months. As a husband and father of six kids, we have had A LOT of closeness over the last month. To their chagrin, our college kids had to ditch their independence and come home to their childhood home. My grade schooler and high school sophomore are e-learning from our computer. Thankfully, we are blessed that our family MVP, Michelle, has been handling this situation with grace and class as usual. I confess that it has been nice to have eight of us around the dinner table to share the chaos in our world. For the first time in my lifetime, our churches have been closed. No Sunday masses, no daily masses, no Adoration Chapel, no in-person fellowship — and at Eastertime of all times. Ouch! At a time when we need our faith communities the most, the spread of the virus separates us. The television and internet coverage of the masses is a nice attempt, but in no way does it replace the real thing of a community of faith. St. Paul writes: “So faith, hope, love remain, these three, but the greatest of these is love.” I have faith and hope that we will all be able to come together in our faith communities soon. In the meantime, all of us have ample opportunities to serve one another, love another, and be charitable to one another. As an owner of a law firm, we were ready for this change. Before this virus hit, we had set up our team members with the tools to operate from home. Our team has adapted in an amazing way. I am overwhelmed by our team’s creativity, production, and charity during this time. One of our team
– Joseph Shannon
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COVID-19 AND WORKERS’ COMPENSATION IN ILLINOIS
COVID-19 has spread throughout the United States, including in Illinois. While Illinois is currently under a stay-at-home order until April 30, many essential businesses continue to operate to keep the production line going.
have made it easier and faster for working men and women and their families to receive protection and benefits due to illness. Similarly to workers’ compensation cases, workers who believe they contracted COVID-19 through work activity will typically fall under the Occupational Disease (OD) Act. Under this act, a worker must show that the nature of their employment puts them at a greater risk for catching the disease than that of the general public. The fact that certain industries and professions have been designated by the governor as “essential” suggests that workers in these professions are automatically at an increased risk. Were you diagnosed with COVID-19 from exposure at work? Contact us today. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and believe that you were exposed at work, contact us today.
This month, we’re featuring our favorite local restaurants in Chicagoland that need your support! Check them out below. If you order from one of them, let us know what you think! Ashleigh Zurek Recommends: The Foxtail “This new restaurant in Downers Grove opened right before the quarantine, so show them some love! They have fantastic Mediterranean food made with the freshest ingredients. Call them at 630-541-9240 or order on GrubHub.” Sarah Anderson Recommends: Pancho Pistolas “This family-owned, authentic Mexican restaurant in Chicago is my favorite place for margaritas in the neighborhood! Their number is 312-225-8808. They have delivery available.” Sidney Bottino Recommends: Corner Stone Tavern “It’s in Lemont, and they have a very creative menu and amazing food selection. It’s definitely a must-try! Call them at 630-863- 7735. They are doing carryout orders.” Jon Svitak Recommends: The Moonlighter “The Moonlighter is across the street from our condo in Logan Square. It’s the perfect neighborhood bar and grill with a strong selection of beers and cocktails. The menu is simple, but the food is excellent and quick. Their number is 773-360-8896, and they make deliveries too!” Brittany Peterson Recommends: Crusade Burger Bar “Located near the Kendall County Courthouse in Yorkville, this burger bar has everything you can think of: creative and mind- What happens, though, if you’re exposed and contract COVID-19 on the job? In this article, I explore whether Illinois workers can file a workers’ compensation claim if they get COVID-19 from exposure at their workplace. The short answer is yes, but your workers’ compensation lawyer will have to prove that you were exposed to COVID-19 at work. On April 13, the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC) ordered that all first responders and front line workers diagnosed with COVID-19 will be assumed to have contracted the illness while working on the job until proven otherwise. This order originally covered most “essential” workers in Illinois. However, on April 27, the IWCC withdrew this order over litigation concerns from the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association and the Illinois Retail Merchants Association. The order would
You may be entitled to benefits under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act. Our workers’ compensation lawyers are ready to help you explore your legal options. Call us at 312-578-9501 or visit our website at ShannonLawGroup.com.
– Jack Cannon
SLG’S FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANTS FOR TAKEOUT AND DELIVERY
blowing burgers, perfect fries, and out-of-this-world milkshakes. Give them a try if you’re in town. Their number is 630-708-3170, and they are doing carryout orders.” Pat Cummings Recommends: Johnny’s Beef & Gyros “Johnny’s serves the best gyros in Chicagoland (and arguably the world). They also have fantastic burgers, hot dogs, sausages, and Parmesan truffle fries. Reach them at 773-697-8885 or order on GrubHub.” Joe Shannon Recommends: Chef Soon Contemporary Sushi “This terrific sushi restaurant is just blocks away from our suburban office in Woodridge. Chef Soon and his staff create superb food. Let’s keep them busy during this time. Call 630-297- 8805 or order on GrubHub.” Pat Anderson Recommends: The Polo Inn “This underrated, unique little restaurant is within a bed and breakfast and serves some of the best steaks in Chicago. Chances are if you eat there, the chef will come personally ask about your meal. Call them at 773-927-7656. They offer carryout.” Jack Cannon Recommends: Fried Egg Cafe “This Vernon Hills restaurant has a great breakfast and brunch menu. They have friendly service and very tasty food with large portion services. Order takeout for your next Sunday brunch! You can reach them at 847-383-6643 and order on ChowNow.”
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REFLECTING ON GRATITUDE
NICK ANDERSON: A COVID-19 HERO
During this crisis, doctors and nurses are not the only heroes risking their lives to keep America going. Those in essential businesses that provide vital goods and services to the public are just as important. These workers also risk exposure to the virus each and every day.
maximize productivity and efficiency. He loves coaching and training his employees to be the best they can be.
Since the virus has hit the U.S., Nick continues to work nearly nonstop to ensure customers have access to the products they are looking for in a safe environment. While the closures in Illinois began on March 21, Arizona did not institute a stay-at- home order until March 30.
While the store hours shortened recently, the workload continues to increase, and keeping a full crew is a big challenge.
With extra sanitation and social distancing precautions in place, Nick and his team do everything they can to get shoppers in and out as quickly as possible. Extra diligence is needed to maintain inventory control. Unfortunately, the precautions do not stop at work. After working long hours on his feet almost all day, he must first clean the day off of him, changing his clothes and washing up so he does not endanger his family. I cannot thank my brother Nick enough for continuing to work hard through this crisis. Thank you to all the workers continuing to do their duties. You are truly heroes, each and every one of you.
One of these heroes is my brother, Nick Anderson, a store manager at Sprouts Farmers Market in Phoenix, Arizona. Nick lives with his wife, Debbie, and two daughters, Kaylee and Bellamy. Nick has been working in the grocery industry for years. He has worked in several different positions, including produce manager and regional manager. In what is typically a rewarding job, Nick now finds himself on the front lines, trying to keep store shelves stocked with the food and goods people need. On a normal day, Nick wakes up early to have coffee with his wife and kids before commuting to work. At work, he oversees inventory control, quality assurance, and customer service. Nick has earned recognition for streamlining store procedures to
– Pat Anderson
THE OPENING STATEMENT WITH JOE SHANNON On “The Opening Statement with Joe Shannon,” Joe sits down with lawyers and professionals to find out how they got started. In a recent episode, Joe also interviews Ted Bundy’s criminal defense lawyer, John Henry Browne. Subscribe and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube today!
MESO KILLERS IS AVAILABLE NOW!
Request your FREE copy today of our new book “Meso Killers: A Saga of Corporate Greed, Lies, and the Painful Deaths of American Workers” by SLG attorney Joe Shannon. In this book, Joe covers the history of asbestos and mesothelioma in America — and ultimately, how the big asbestos industry killed millions of hardworking Americans. You can request your free copy by emailing Brittany at bpeterson@ shannonlawgroup.com.
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Phone: 312-578-9501 www.shannonlawgroup.com
135 S. LASALLE ST., STE. 2200 CHICAGO, IL 60603
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Let Us Respond With Faith, Hope, and Love What if You Contract the Coronavirus at Work?
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SLG’s Favorite Local Restaurants Nick Anderson: A COVID-19 Hero
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Check Out Our New Podcast!
CHICAGOLAND COVID-19 RESOURCES To find resources and
information on the COVID-19 crisis in Chicagoland, visit our website at ShannonLawGroup.com/covid- 19-chicago-illinois. We also list ways you can help in your community. If you or someone you know needs help during this crisis, you can contact us at any time at 312-578-9501. Even if we can’t help directly, we can put you in touch with other members in our community who can.
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