Douglas A. Colby - Chicago, IL

As a young law student in 1980, Douglas A. Colby began his professional career as a law clerk at Anesi Ozmon, Ltd. Upon graduation in 1982, he joined the firm as an associate attorney. Over the next 37 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.

A Senior Partner in 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, Ltd. 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 include:

• $12 million settlement in favor of a catastrophically injured worker.
• $2.9 million settlement for a union painter who sustained a brain injury.
• $730,000 settlement for a union ironworker who developed reflex sympathetic dystrophy from a knee injury.
• $645,000 settlement on a totally disputed case for a laborer who had an unwitnessed fall off a ladder sustaining a brain injury.
• $600,000+ award, on a totally disputed case, for a school administrator who died as a result of mental stress.
• $550,000 settlement for a young teamster who required multiple shoulder surgeries.
• $525,000 settlement for a union ironworker who injured his back while lifting heavy objects.
• $460,000 settlement for a union ironworker who sustained a shoulder injury requiring two surgeries.
• $438,000 settlement for a totally denied claim on behalf of a widower whose wife died while attending a business dinner.
• $425,000 settlement for a local 1 union ironworker with an unoperated low back injury and permanent weight restrictions.
• $375,000 settlement for a union plumber who injured his neck while working in a confined space.
• $375,000 settlement for a union iron worker who fell 25 feet sustaining multiple injuries but able to return to work.
• $352,600 settlement on a totally disputed claim for a teamster who injured his back and neck while bending over.
• $335,000 settlement for a truck driver who was severely injured after being run over at a gas station.
• $250,000 settlement for a union ironworker with a knee injury requiring an arthroscopic procedure.
• $250,000 settlement for a Local #1 ironworker with a knee and back injury.
• $245,000 settlement for a painter who had two surgeries to his knee.
• $215,000 settlement 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 settlement for a Local #1 ironworker with an unoperated back injury.
• $195,000 settlement for a handicap-accessible home and van for a union ironworker who became paralyzed after a fall.
• $190,000 settlement received for a union electrician who sustained a tendon and nerve injury to his thumb.
• $178,000 settlement for modifications to a home for a paraplegic needing accommodations.
• $170,000 settlement 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.

Douglas Colby was selected by Leading Lawyers Magazine – Consumer Edition to be one of the featured editorial profiles in the publication. The article is entitled “Determined to Succeed for Injured Workers” and highlights Doug’s career as one of the premiere Workers’ Compensation attorneys in Illinois. The profile also provides a glimpse into Doug’s personal life and how he has dealt with both triumph and tragedy.

“To be successful as an individual representing injured parties, you must have compassion, drive, intelligence, and probably more important, a willingness to do that which is right.”