The Injury
The client was 49 and worked through a temporary staffing agency at a metal-parts factory in the Chicago, Illinois area. The job was heavy: lifting, twisting, and moving material all day. In 2018, doing that repeated strain, he injured his lower back.
When “Just a Strain” Becomes Spine Surgery
At first it was treated as a simple lumbar strain. But the pain grew and began radiating down his left leg. Imaging told the real story: lumbar disc herniations and nerve damage (L5-S1 radiculopathy). In time, he needed two-level spine surgery (laminectomy, foraminotomy, and discectomy). That is where the hardest fight was. The insurer’s own doctors (IME) claimed he was “magnifying” his symptoms and did not need surgery. His diabetes and high blood pressure also delayed authorizations. It was years of dispute.
Turning Strategy Into Justice
When the client came to our office, our legal team immediately took control of the case. We built the case on the full medical record — MRIs, nerve studies, spine specialists, therapy, and the functional capacity evaluation — and answered every insurer doctor who accused him of exaggerating. Jack Epstein, with 30 years of experience in the Illinois legal market, oversaw the strategy. We pressed for the wage benefits owed (more than 130 weeks) and for the surgery he needed. Throughout, the client paid nothing until we won the case.
The Result
The client secured a $315,000 settlement, of which he received $249,200 net. Along the way, his disability weeks were paid and his surgery was authorized and covered. Every accusation of “symptom magnification,” we met with medical evidence.
Why This Case Matters
A disputed back injury — even one the insurer calls exaggerated — can be real, surgical, and disabling. When the medical record is built and defended, “you’re faking” is not the last word. If your back injury has been denied or called exaggerated, our Illinois legal team can help you recover what you rightfully deserve.
