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Levinson, Stefani, Terleckyj Recognized By Illinois Super Lawyers

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Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters rating service branch, recognizes particularly outstanding lawyers “from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement,” and has recognized Levinson and Stefani’s Ken Levinson and Jay Stefani as Super Lawyers, Dan Terleckyj as a Rising Star, and Levinson also as a Top 100 Super Lawyer for the 2021 year.

Levinson has been named a Super Lawyer each year since 2010, and a Top 100 Illinois Super Lawyer in 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2021. This year, Levinson, Stefani, and Terleckyj were chosen out of around 95,000 Illinois attorneys for their recognition.

Super Lawyers uses peer nominations, peer evaluations, and independent research to select its recognized lawyers through a patented selection process. Top Illinois Lawyers receive the highest point totals; these lawyers are then recognized within the Top Illinois Super Lawyer lists.

Super Lawyer candidates are considered through either a peer nomination, third party feedback, a managing partner survey, or Super Lawyer Research Team identification. Then, a candidate’s professional achievement and recognition are evaluated on factors such as experience, awards, pro bono and community service, transactions, and scholarly lectures.

Only 5% of a representative number of attorneys from small, medium, and large firms chosen for final selections are recognized as Super Lawyers and are considered to be the “best of the best.”

High-scoring candidates then serve on the Blue Ribbon Panel to evaluate their peers within their own specific areas of practice.

“It’s always nice to receive recognition for what you do, but I’m most proud to be recognized by other great lawyers,” said Stefani. “It means a lot knowing they see and appreciate how hard I work for clients.”

Still, Stefani notes that his own recognition comes from the firm’s powerful teamwork.

“Having each of the lawyers at our firm recognized by Super Lawyers is a testament to our team approach to fight for our clients,” he said.

Terleckyj agreed, noting the distinction is due to the firm’s motivation to do the best it can for the people it serves.

“It’s an honor to get this distinction and I am thrilled to share the spotlight with the firm’s partners,” he said. “I think it is a testament to our dedication to clients and getting results that all the lawyers in our firm were recognized.”

Ken Levinson named Top 100 Illinois Super Lawyer for 2021

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Levinson and Stefani’s own Ken Levinson has been named not only a Super Lawyer–but a Top 100 Illinois Super Lawyer for 2021.

Super Lawyers, a rating service branch of Thomson Reuters, rates outstanding lawyers “from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement,” according to Super Lawyers’ website. The service uses peer nominations, peer evaluations, and its own independent research for selection.

Levinson has been named a Super Lawyer every year since 2010, and has also been named a Top 100 Illinois Super Lawyer for 2012, 2016, 2020, and now, 2021.

“Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators” of achievement and recognition, says the Super Lawyers site. “Selections are made on an annual, state-by-state basis. The objective is to create a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of outstanding attorneys that can be used as a resource for attorneys and consumers searching for legal counsel.”

Not only does Levinson continue to be named a Super Lawyer and Top 100 Illinois Super Lawyer out of around 95,000 attorneys throughout Illinois, but Levinson was the only Top 100 Illinois selection who concentrates nearly exclusively on truck and auto crash injury cases–which make up over 95% of the firm’s overall cases.

After evaluating research and peer evaluation, Super Lawyers uses a patented selection process to recognize top Illinois Lawyers who receive the highest point totals. These particular lawyers are then further recognized throughout the lists of Top Illinois Super Lawyers.

Nominations for Super Lawyer candidates come from either a managing partner survey, a peer nomination, third party feedback, or Super Lawyer Research Team identification. 

Then, through independent research, a candidate’s professional achievement and peer recognition are evaluated based on 12 indicators– including transactions, experience, awards, scholarly lectures, and pro bono and community service.

Then, candidates with the highest point totals from these first two steps serve on the Blue Ribbon Panel for peer evaluation–Blue Ribbon Panel members proceed to evaluate other candidates within their own primary areas of practice.

Finally, a representative number of small, medium, and large firm attorneys are chosen for final selection, with only 5% being selected as Super Lawyers. These lawyers are deemed to be the “best of the best” attorneys, and Super Lawyers limits lawyer ratings to those who can be hired and retained by the public, as the entire Super Lawyers system is meant to be a helpful lawyer-selecting tool.

Levinson & Stefani Continues to Serve its Clients During Covid-19

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As Covid-19 has ravaged and shut down communities across the United States, we have all been forced to change our lifestyle for the greater good. For many of us who reside in Illinois, “going out” now only refers to essential trips to the grocery store. More pressing has been the shocking realization that so many of the restaurants and businesses that we frequent each day are now being forced to close temporarily, or worse; for good. While this situation continues to progress, we have made certain that our Firm does as well, becoming more flexible in our capacity to provide the service our clients expect on a daily basis. In a sense, everything has changed, but for us, nothing has really changed at all.

In light of Governor Pritzker’s Stay-At-Home Order that went into effect on March 21st, legal services were rendered “Essential Business” thereby allowing us to continue to meet the necessary obligations of our clients. To take extra precaution for our own employees during this health scare, all members of our staff are now working remotely, but rest assured that our distance away from our office has not affected our ability to provide our clients with the service they have come to expect.

At this moment in time our remote “office” still maintains the ability to complete all tasks we were able to do previously. Our staff has the ability to sign critical paperwork and documents, access case files for each of our clients, and communicate with all parties involved in the litigation process. If anything, working remotely has expanded our capabilities as we now have access to all of our regular services on a 24/7 basis, which means that our clients can and should have the expectation that we may be reached any day of the week to assist with any issues that arise. At a time like this, our Firm understands that due to the uncertainty in the economy and the effect restaurants and businesses throughout the City, many clients will likely have questions regarding their case and any financial issues that may arise. With that being said, we are here to answer these questions and assist our clients as best we can. From handling issues with medical bills and liens, to contacting insurance companies on your behalf, our team is here for you.

Take note, that while we continue to work each day to best serve our clients, Cook County Court system still remains in-flux. As of March 30th, it was announced that the Cook County Circuit Court would be suspending nearly all civil cases, except for emergency hearings, until the end of May. Marking this as a truly unprecedented time, the Court also signaled that it would be adopting videoconferencing as a way to conduct hearings for those cases deemed necessary or for emergencies.

All of this goes to say that while we will all have to adjust to these new changes for some time, our Firm is well prepared to modify our work schedule and regimen accordingly. We will be there for our clients during this time.  

America’s Truck Drivers Can’t Stay Home

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When we think about the people in our communities who definitely can’t work from home, we most often think of emergency room doctors and nurses, and rightly so. However, there are many workers on the front lines in the fight against the spread of COVID-19 who may not be top of mind for most people, yet their contributions are vital to allowing people to get food and supplies in this critical time. 

Whether you’re buying your food and essentials from a store or getting them delivered, those items most certainly spent part of their journey to your home on a truck driven by one of the over 3 million professional truck drivers in the United States. Since most the country is under some form of quarantine order or another, food, essentials, and medical supplies are nearly entirely moved only by professional drivers. 

Some drivers regularly travel thousands of miles as part of a supply chain that keeps grocery store shelves fully stocked. If a driver were to get sick far from home at a time when there is no guarantee of testing, they may be left with few options and they even might get stranded. With so many businesses closed, many drivers will rely on truck stops and travel centers for rest, fuel, essentials, and supplies. In Some cases, these facilities may be the only ones available for drivers who are far from home. 

The National Association of Truck Stop Operators (NATSO), a trade association based in Washington D.C. that represents the truck stop industry keeps a directory of stops and travel centers on their website to make it easier for drivers to locate facilities near them. 

What if a driver gets sick?

Each trucking company is likely to have a different set of policies for its employees. In March, new Federal legislation was signed into law, called the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The law requires employers with less than 500 workers to provide additional paid sick leave to their employees. Some of the provisions that require employers to provide additional paid leave to an employee situations where an employee has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine, or to someone is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and is seeking diagnosis. There are also provisions requiring higher compensation rates for some employees. However, there are exceptions to these rules given to some smaller businesses whose viability would be jeopardized by enacting these provisions. These new rules are set to expire at the end of 2020. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued some guidelines to help delivery drivers stay safe while working. Some of these tips can also apply to long-haul truckers. Additionally, truck drivers should be diligent about taking all the precautions they can to prevent the spread of this virus. 

You’re probably tired of hearing this, but wash your hands: 

Hand sanitizer may be helpful to have in a bind. However, it doesn’t substitute for washing your hands with soap and water for at least 30 seconds. This may seem like overkill, but you should wash your hands every time you get fuel, use the washroom, or before you eat. Just think about how many people touch a fuel pump or use the bathroom every day. In fact, try to avoid things that multiple people come into contact with, like buffet style dining facilities or public computers.

Finally, if a driver does get sick – stop working. You should contact your company’s safety department as soon as you feel ill. Not only are you risking getting someone else sick if you keep working, but it’s also unsafe to operate a rig if you’re sick or fatigued. 

2020 International Roadchecks Have Been Set for May Fifth Through the Seventh

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The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) an organization that includes both local and national government officials in North America, as well as industry representatives, will be conducting its International Roadcheck this year on May 5-7. The Roadcheck is an initiative meant to focus attention on the importance of commercial vehicle safety through a 72 hour marathon of roadside vehicle inspections throughout North America. 

Inspectors will be checking both vehicles and drivers. They will conduct driver interviews, review documents, and check their records and inspection reports. Inspectors will also be looking for signs that a driver may be ill or fatigued, and whether the driver displays any signs of drug or alcohol abuse.

The inspectors will also conduct vehicle inspections to make sure drivers are operating a properly maintained rig. CVSA inspectors will be placing decals on vehicles on which no critical violations are found during their Level I or Level V inspections. However, inspections that do reveal critical violations may be rendered out of service until any violations are corrected. 

Some drivers or motor carriers may decide they want to sit out the inspections all together. If you stay off the road in early May there is less of a chance of having to go through an inspection. However, not driving to avoid getting checked is not only unsafe it is also a bad business move. 

If you’re not driving, you’re not earning. The purpose of running any efficient transportation business is to make a profit. With plenty of time and a warning of upcoming inspection dates, drivers and motor carriers can prepare to make sure all their logs, records, licenses, certifications, and vehicles are in proper order. A vehicle that doesn’t pass and is put out of commission cannot produce an income. A vehicle that has violations but is hidden from inspectors creates a great safety risk to professional drivers and to the public who use the roads. When a crash happens, you can be certain that there will be law enforcement, government officials, and lawyers scrutinizing over records and conducting inspections to find violations. In these situations, the risk of being put completely out of business is a real consequence that motor carriers can face. Even if the majority of a given company’s fleet is violation free, the part that is not can result in a shutdown. 

Chances are that everything we see around us from goods, food, to furniture got to where it is at least in part by a truck. Commercial motor carriers are operating in a business that holds definite risks to public safety and property damage when people do not follow safety rules. If motor carriers or drivers do not follow safety rules and a crash occurs, government inspectors can cause the whole operation to be shut down. Crashes can also lead to insurance rates skyrocketing, making it too expensive to keep the business running. 

Public safety is not the only concern when it comes to operating a commercial trucking company. IF a driver gets hurt as the result of an unsafe truck the company that driver works for can incur costs for worker’s compensation and will be short a driver. Additionally, vehicles are expensive. It costs money to fix or replace a damaged truck. Taken as a whole, it will certainly be less expensive to properly maintain a fleet of vehicles and follow all the proper safety rules rather than to cut corners. It’s much less expensive to stay safe than to recoup after a crash. Of course, your life and health are priceless. 

New Federal Rules Will Help Trucking Companies Hire Safe Drivers

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The Federal government has adopted new policies aimed at taking unqualified truck drivers off the road. Registration is now open for the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, a new substance abuse screening system for truckers that is scheduled to be operational early in 2020 . The Clearinghouse is a database that will keep track of drivers who have violated drug and alcohol policies in order to stop them from operating commercial vehicles. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration anticipates that the implementation of this database will substantially reduce motor vehicle crashes involving heavy trucks. 

The federal rules regarding professional truck drivers already prohibit drivers from getting behind the wheel when they test positive for illegal drugs. Of course, everyone knows that drunk driving is illegal. The Clearinghouse database will allow trucking companies to screen drivers applying for jobs to see if they have previously tested positive for drugs and are looking to get hired at a new place. Drivers can also lookup their own information once they have registered with the Clearinghouse themselves. Once registered, drivers can search for their own information for free. The database will include information about whether a professional driver has any drug or alcohol program violations and, if applicable, the status of their petitions to return to duty. 

The new system is meant to act as a check on drivers who violate substance abuse rules follow the proper protocol to get back in to good standing, if possible, before they are allowed to keep driving. Drivers with commercial driver’s licenses, employers, law enforcement, medical review officers, and substance abuse processionals will be among the groups who will be authorized to access the Clearinghouse. 

As for what should be reported to the database – Federal Statutes cover that: 

Employers will report a driver’s drug and alcohol program violations. Medical review officers will do this as well. A driver does not need to register him or herself into the system for a medical review officer to enter a violation in the system. In fact, it is not mandatory for a driver to register. But, if an employer needs to conduct a full check on a driver, that driver will have to register. This means, drivers who don’t want to take part may not be able to get hired for certain jobs because perspective or current employers will not be able to conduct a full search on the database for their information. After January 6, 2019 a driver will have to be registered with the Clearinghouse in order for an employer to be able to conduct a full search on their record for new hires. Drivers who are registered will be able to give their consent to release drug and alcohol program information to employers. Also, when new information is added to their profile, drivers will receive notifications from the Clearinghouse in the mail or electronically. 

Drug abuse is a problem that needs to be addressed with treatment and counseling. Allowing drivers to keep working when they have a substance abuse problem by slipping through bureaucratic cracks doesn’t help drivers who may need help to get sober. It obviously makes roads less safe. 

In the computer age with so much information going digital, this just makes sense. Professional truck drivers have a difficult job. They have to work long hours, often by themselves, away from their families. They have to keep alert on the road and get enough rest to do so. Drug use is a problem that poses a great risk to the health and safety of, not only professional drivers, but also everyone else who shares the road with them. Safety is on the roads is imperative. This database is likely the least intrusive way to keep records of drug and alcohol program violations so that employers know if they are sending a driver out on the road with the proper credentials.