PRACTICE HIGHLIGHTS

June 2007 – Deanna lectured to employers and fellow attorneys at the National Business Institute’s seminar titled “Advanced Workers’ Compensation” in Fairview Heights, Illinois. Deanna presented two chapters at the seminar on “Selected Issues in Workers’ Compensation” and “The Illinois Insurance Guaranty Fund.”

September 29, 2009, Ms. Litzenburg spoke at the firm’s annual Tax Update & Planning Seminar at the Rend Lake Resort in Whittington, Illinois. Ms. Litzenburg presented an Employment Law Update to those in attendance.

Inter-City Products Corp. v. Industrial Commission, 326 Ill.App.3d 185, 759 N.E.2d 952 (5th Dist. 2001). Ms. Litzenburg successfully represented the employer on appeal of a workers’ compensation decision in the Fifth Judicial District. The Fifth District Appellate Court determined that the first decision of the Illinois Industrial Commission was not against the manifest weight of the evidence, and as such, the trial court erred when it set aside the Commission’s original decision and remanded the matter to the Industrial Commission.

Dunklin v. Contempri Homes, et al, Not Reported in F.Supp.2d, 2009 WL 1220629 and 2009 WL 466451, Southern District of Illinois, Cause No. 07-CV-128-WDS. Ms. Litzenburg successfully obtained summary judgment in favor of the employer, Contempri Industries, Inc., and several supervisors in a suit brought by an African-American employee claiming a racially hostile work environment. The court also dismissed counts for racial discrimination brought under Title VII, negligent supervision, and battery for failing to state causes of action.

Clifton v. Casino Queen, Inc, Not Reported in F.Supp.2d, 2006 WL 644769, S.D.Ill. (No. 05-CV-129), Ms. Litzenburg assisted Mr. Schuver in successfully representing various employees of the Casino Queen in their claims of racial discrimination, retaliation and unlawful employment practices.

Martha Embrich v. Memorial Hospital, 08 WC 26997. Ms. Litzenburg obtained a decision in favor of the employer in an Illinois workers’ compensation proceeding. The employee claimed to have sustained an accidental injury arising out of her employment when she stopped off a sidewalk and fell during her lunch break. The arbitrator determined that the accident did not arise out of or in the course and scope of the employment.

Fay Blakey v. Memorial Hospital, 08 WC 28345. Ms. Litzenburg obtained a decision in favor of the employer in an Illinois workers’ compensation proceeding. The employee claimed a repetitive trauma injury from working as a respiratory therapist at a hospital. The arbitrator determined that the employee failed to prove that her present condition of ill-being arose out of an accident in the course and scope of her employment with Respondent. The arbitrator’s decision was affirmed by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission on review. The matter is currently pending before the Circuit Court of St. Clair County, Illinois on appeal.

Hadley v. Central Illinois Bank, Ms. Litzenburg assisted Mr. Schuver, Ms. Grandy and Mr. Niehoff with obtaining in excess of $20 million in recoveries on behalf of their client, alleging the loss of million of dollars of rare coins and precious metals.

Ms. Litzenburg represented a defendant in four class action lawsuits in Madison County, Illinois asserting various consumer claims arising from the sale of extended warranties and credit life insurance.

United States District Court, New Jersey: Commercial litigation concerning termination of a distributor.

Legal Services

Education

  • Southern Illinois University Carbondale
    JD 1999
  • Southeast MIssouri State University
    BA in Political Science and Philosophy 1995

Bar Admissions

  • Illinois
  • Missouri

Court Admissions

  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
  • United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
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