Blog

Jan 23
0 min

Growing Into a Fine Guide Dog

Dec 1, 2022
1 min

Ridge & Downes calls it Puppy Love

Ridge & Downes (R&D) is a proud sponsor of many puppies from Guide Dogs of America on behalf of the IAMAW District 8 for many a year. ...

Aug 1, 2022
1 min

Lawsuits and the Internet

Dec 3, 2020
2 min

Injuries From Slip & Falls: Relief Under the Illinois Workers' Compensation & Common Law Negligence

As another Illinois winter is underway, it’s time to address your rights in the event you are injured from a slip and fall on ice and...

Dec 3, 2020
1 min

Gov. Rauner Vetoes WC Premium Reforms

At a time when the costs associated with Workers’ Compensation claims fall but insurance premiums continue to rise, the Illinois General...

Dec 3, 2020
1 min

NCCI Recommends 5th Consecutive WC Premium Rate Reduction

The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI), an insurance industry rate making agency which provides workers’ compensation...

Dec 3, 2020
2 min

Fired for Reporting Track Defects

A veteran track inspector has recently filed suit against the BNSF Railroad alleging that they fired him for reporting a dangerous major...

Dec 3, 2020
1 min

Safety Is No Accident

On December 30, 2013, a BNSF train derailment caused 476,000 gallons of crude oil to spill and ignite near the town of Casselton, North...

Dec 3, 2020
2 min

Whistleblower Retaliation

In the continuing crusade of Designated Legal Counsel like Ridge & Downes to protect workers’ rights, today we address the “culture of...

Dec 3, 2020
2 min

NCCI Recommends Premium Rate Reduction

The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) has recommended an insurance rate reduction of 12.9% for Illinois employers. This...

Dec 3, 2020
2 min

How are WC insurers spending their profits?

Benefit payments are down, profits are up. Instead of passing these savings on to Illinois businesses, insurers are throwing parties...

Dec 3, 2020
3 min

POOF BY ASSERTION: If you repeat a lie often enough, it becomes the truth

Governor Rauner is still demanding workers’ compensation “reform” in the ongoing budget standoff. In pursuit of this goal, the Governor...

Dec 3, 2020
2 min

New Year, New You

It is the time of year to decide on your New Year’s Resolution for 2016! Some of us have the same resolutions from year-to-year and...

Dec 3, 2020
2 min

Protect Workers' Rights

As we’ve reported previously, Governor Rauner’s turnaround agenda listed workers’ compensation “reform” as one of his main goals. At this...

Dec 3, 2020
2 min

Truck Driver: Employee or Independent Contractor?

The most abused aspect of the Workers’ Compensation Act is the misclassification of employees by companies who call the workers...

Dec 3, 2020
2 min

Suing a Municipality

When a personal injury occurs due to the fault of a municipality, such as a city, park district, township or county, you must have an...

Dec 3, 2020
1 min

Legislative Happenings on WC Reform

As the 99th General Assembly regular session draws to a close on May 31, 2015, workers’ compensation “reform” has been a hot item on...

Dec 3, 2020
1 min

Protect the Workers' Compensation Act

It has come to our attention that legislation to reduce benefits under the Workers’ Compensation Act will be offered in the Illinois...

Dec 3, 2020
2 min

Workers' Comp "Deform": A Race to the Bottom

Our office works to continually update you on changes to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act (“Act”). Unfortunately, especially after...

Dec 3, 2020
2 min

Anti-worker Legislation introduced in 99th General Assembly

Notoriously anti-worker (and anti-workers’ compensation) legislators have introduced proposed legislation with the goal of radically...