Kenneth F. Werts - Partner

On February 8, 2012, Kenneth F. Werts, at the invitation of Chairman Mitch Weisz, presented the topic Black Lung to the most recently appointed Arbitrators and Workers’ Compensation Commission staff as part of their required judicial training. Ken has also been selected as a Prime Member of the Association of Defense Trial Attorneys (ADTA) and becomes one of only 23 attorneys in the State of Illinois to hold such membership. According to the association, membership in the ADTA is “limited to those proven and successful professionals possessing the highest skill level.” On February 20, 2012 Ken was the moderator for the Illinois State Bar Association’s (ISBA) Law Ed presentation titled Advanced Workers’ Compensation. Ken has written the chapter on workers’ compensation law recently published by the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel (IDC) in its 2011 Survey of Law and the third edition of his book, Illinois Workers’ Compensation Guidebook has been published. Ken now serves on the National Advisory Panel for Larson’s Workers’ Compensation Law.

On January 20, 2011 Kenneth F. Werts spoke to the Southern Illinois Personnel Managers Association in Marion Illinois. The topic was a report and analysis of the proposed amendments to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act. On February 21, 2011 Ken presented the topic Occupational Diseases for the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) as part of its Law Ed Series in Fairview Heights Illinois. On October 10, 2011 Ken will again present for the ISBA at its Law Ed Series in Fairview Heights with a case law update on workers’ compensation. Chairman Mitch Weisz of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission has recruited Ken to present the topic Black Lung Disease to the Arbitrators and Commissioners of the Commission at their judicial training scheduled for October 20, 2011 at the Commission’s office in Chicago. On October 13, 2011 Ken will be part of a panel discussion regarding the workers’ compensation amendments recently signed into law by Governor Patrick Quinn, at the annual meeting of the Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois in Peoria. Ken is currently working on revisions to his book Illinois Workers’ Compensation Guidebook. The 2011 edition will be available for purchase this fall.

Kenneth F. Werts joined the law firm of Craig & Craig in October 1984. Mr. Werts' experience is in personal injury defense (product liability, railroad defense) with emphasis on workers' compensation, black lung and occupational disease defense. He is rated AV by Martindale Hubbell and has been selected by his peers as a Leading Lawyer in Illinois. Mr. Werts has written and lectured throughout the State on a variety of topics and is the Co-Author of "Kotecki v. Cyclops Welding Corp. The Unanswered Question," Third Party Practice, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Chapter 8, 2004; Co-Author of "Settlement," Illinois Civil Practice Before Trial, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Chapter 3, 2009; Co-Author of "The IDC Monograph: The Normal Daily Activity Exception to Workers' Compensation Claims," IDC Quarterly, Third Quarter 2004, Volume 14, Number 3; and Co-Author of "The IDC Monograph: Economic Disability and Earning Capacity: A Historical Analysis for Wage Differential Claims," IDC Quarterly, Third Quarter 2006, Volume 16, Number 3. He is a member of the Illinois State and American Bar Associations with whom he has been a member of the Workers' Compensation and Employers Liability and Law Committee since 2001. Mr. Werts is a member of the Defense Research Institute. Mr. Werts is also a member of the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel and a member of the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, serving on the Board of Directors from 2001-2006 and as President from 2010-2011.

Kenneth F. Werts has been active in appellate practice throughout his career, with 21 opinions issued where he was counsel of record. Mr. Werts has presented arguments before the Illinois Supreme Court and in every District of the Appellate Court.

Kenneth F. Werts has tried hundreds of cases before the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission during his years of practice from the most simple of cases to complex occupational disease claims. Mr. Werts also handles occupational disease claims before the United States Department of Labor. Over his career he has been a frequent writer and lecturer on workers' compensation and occupational disease. He has served twice as Chair of the Illinois State Bar Association Council on Workers' Compensation, first from 1997-1998 and again from 2008-2009. He was Co-Chair of the Employment Law Committee 2001-2003 of the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel and Co-Chair of the Workers' Compensation Committee of the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel 2003-2005. Mr. Werts is a member of the Illinois Chamber Employment Law Council. Mr. Werts is also a member of the Workers' Compensation Committee of the Defense Research Institute. Mr. Werts is the Co-Author of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Guidebook.

Practice Areas

Education

Southern Illinois University, J.D., 1984
University of Illinois, B.A., 1979
Pi Sigma Alpha. National Political Science Honor Society.

Admitted

1984, Illinois

Memberships

Jefferson County, Illinois State (Chairman, Worker's Compensation Law Section Council, 1997-1998 and 2008-2009)
American Bar Associations (Member, Workers' Compensation and Employers' Liability Law Committee, 2001- Present)
Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel (Member, Board of Directors, 2001-2006; Co-Chair, Employment Law Committee, 2001-2003; Co-Chair, Workers' Compensation Committee, 2003-2005; President-Elect, 2009-2010)
Defense Research Institute (Member, Workers' Compensation Committee, 2006- Present)
National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel.

Biography

Co-Author: "Kotecki v. Cyclops Welding and its Progeny," Third-Party Practice, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Chapter 8, 2004.
Co-Author: "Settlement," Illinois Civil Practice Before Trial, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Chapter 3, 2009.
Co-Author: "The IDC Monograph: The Normal Daily Activity Exception to Workers' Compensation Claims," IDC Quarterly, Third Quarter 2004, Volume 14, Number 3.
Co-Author: "The IDC Monograph: Economic Disability and Earning Capacity: A Historical Analysis for Wage Differential Claims," IDC Quarterly, Third Quarter 2006, Volume 16, Number 3.
Co-Author: "Illinois Workers’ Compensation Guidebook," (Matthew Bender 2010)

Born: Champaign, Illinois, February 27, 1957

Craig and Craig

Attorneys at Law