Kenneth F. Werts – Member

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Kenneth F. Werts joined the law firm of Craig & Craig in October 1984. Mr. Werts’ experience is in personal injury 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 College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers 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, 2010-2011)
Defense Research Institute (Member, Workers’ Compensation Committee, 2006- Present)
College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
Illinois Chamber of Commerce Employment Law Council Workers’ Compensation Committee

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.
Author: “Illinois Workers’ Compensation Guidebook” (Matthew Bender)

Born: Champaign, Illinois, February 27, 1957