Mark P. Rusin

Board of Directors

  |  

Managing Partner – CFO

Mark Rusin is a managing partner of the firm. He is an experienced member of our Workers’ Compensation Defense Department. Mark’s Workers’ Compensation cases are centered in the Chicago area and collar counties. He focuses his practice in cases involving fraud, truck accidents and catastrophic injuries. Over the years, Mark has successfully handled Workers’ Compensation cases on behalf of employers from arbitration before the Commission through all appellate levels up to the Supreme Court of Illinois.

Mark recognizes a duty to keep clients well informed and up to date on Illinois Workers’ Compensation laws and strategies. Mark presents seminars and training sessions on various Workers’ Compensation topics for clients and the firm. Additionally, Mark has provided Workers’ Compensation expert training on behalf of Lorman Educational Services. He has lectured on multiple Workers’ Compensation topics which include: accident issues and defenses, the causal connection standard, amputations under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, post-trial issues, liens and third-party practice, 2011 Amendments to the Act and Medicare Set-Aside issues.

Mark earned his Bachelor Degree in History from the University of Illinois in 1987. He graduated with honors from the Chicago Kent College of Law in 1990. Mark is a member of the Chicago and DuPage County Bar Associations.

Mark and his family live in DuPage County, Wheaton, Illinois. Mark is very active in his community and local church. He has coached youth baseball through Wheaton Park District programs. He has coached youth basketball as part of Upward basketball programs. Mark suffered a spinal cord injury as a teenager. He has previously volunteered his time and services at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Center to provide assistance and counseling to patients. Mark has always loved sports and exercise, even following his spinal cord injury. He is a former captain and shortstop of the Wheelchair Cubs Softball Team who have placed first in the National Wheelchair Softball Tournament. He has been an avid wheelchair basketball player, tennis player and marathoner in the past. He previously became a USTA Certified tennis umpire and has officiated at the Illinois High School Boys State Tennis Tournament. Mark was previously featured on Fox Sports Network for his active personal and professional life. He resides in Wheaton, Illinois with his wife Rachel and their three children. Mark is a Founding and Board Member to the Chicagoland Alliance for Disabled Owned Businesses.

Education

B.A., University of Illinois, 1987
J.D., IIT, Chicago-Kent College of Law, with honors, 1990
Federal Judicial Externship, 1990

Admissions

  • Illinois, 1990

Honors

  • 5.0/5.0 AV Preeminent LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rated for Ethical Standards and Legal Ability
  • Leading Lawyer selected Worker’s Compensation Defense Field – Selected 2010-Present

Memberships

  • DuPage County Bar Association
  • Chicago Bar Association
  • Chicagoland Alliance of Disabled Owned Businesses (Co-Founder)

Speaking Engagements

  • Multiple client seminars/training sessions on Workers’ Compensation Claim Defense Issues, 1995 to present 
    • Topics have included: accident defenses, fraud, post 2011 changes to the Act, amputations under the Act, causal connection standard, post trial issues, Workers’ Compensation lien issues, and Medicare.
  • Workers Compensation & Ethics Seminar, Speaker- December 2022
  • Illinois Workers Compensation Case Law Update Webinar, Moderator/Speaker – October 2022
  • Illinois Workers Compensation Medical Update Webinar, Speaker – September 2022
  • Illinois Workers’ Compensation Practice, Procedure, Personnel and Legislation Update, Moderator/Speaker – June 2022
  • Covid-19 Claims Update Webinar, Moderator – June 2021
  • Accident Defenses and the McAllister Decision Webinar, Moderator and Presenter, – May 2021
  • Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission Update Webinar, Moderator – April 2021
  • Rusin & Maciorowski Employer Conference,  Moderator and Presenter, “Illinois Workers Compensation Commission Update” May 2019
  • Ethics and Worker’s compensation presentation to Corvel and Network, May 2019
  • Rusin & Maciorowski Employer Conference,  Moderator and Presenter, “Illinois Workers Compensation Commission Update” May 2018
  • WorkCompCentral Illinois Webinar, “Illinois Worker’s Compensation Commission and Case Law Updates.” September 2017
  • Rusin & Maciorowski Employer Conference & Seminar, Moderator and Presenter, “Impact of 2011 Amendments to Workers’ Compensation Act,” June 2017
  • WorkCompCentral Illinois Webinar, “Illinois Worker’s Compensation Update & Top Defenses.” September 2016
  • Rusin & Maciorowski Employer Conference & Seminar, Moderator and Presenter, “Top Defenses in Defending IWCC cases,” July 2016
  • Rusin & Maciorowski Employer Conference & Seminar, Moderator and Presenter, “Role of Defense Attorney in Workers’ Compensation Cases,” June 2015
  • Lorman Education Services, Moderator and Presenter, “Accident Defenses and the Causal Connection Standard,” 2012
  • Rusin, Maciorowski & Friedman Seminar – Accident Defenses, 2012
  • Rusin, Maciorowski & Friedman Workers’ Compensation Seminar – “Liens and Third- Party Practice,” May 2009
  • Lorman Education Services, “Workers’ Compensation Update in Illinois,” February 2009
  • Lorman Education Services, “Workers’ Compensation Update in Illinois,” February 2008

Reported Decisions

  • Gina Brettman v. Trinity River Construction, 2021 IL App (1st) 210145WC-U

Appellate Court decision issued as a Rule 23 order denying petitioner claims that she was a traveling employee injured in the course of her employment. A favorable ruling for the employer concluding petitioner was not acting in the course and scope of her employment. Any claim for benefits was denied.

  • Rigoberto Lopez v. Amtab, 17 IWCC 328 (2017)

Favorable Decision for Employer ruling the IME Doctor opinions are more credible than the treating doctor. Petitioner claim for Temporary Total Disability and in medical bills in excess of $50,000.00 denied. 

  • Con-way Freight Inc. v. Ill Workers’ Compensation Comm., 2016 IL App (1st) 152576WC (2016)

Appellate Court Decision providing clarification and interpretation of the 2011 Permanent Partial Disability amendment to the Worker’s Compensation Act.

  • Carlini v. DRC Electric Insurance, 15 IWCC 956 (2015)

Favorable Decision for Employer; Fatal heart attack claim denied as petitioner failed to prove a compensable accident or disease which arouse out of and in the course of employment. 

  • Archer v. Ill. Workers’ Compensation Comm., 2014 IL App (1st) 122893WC-U (2014)

Appellate Court Rule 23 order affirming Commission Decision: 11 IWCC 1150. Favorable Decision for employers finding proposed vocational rehab plan of petitioner unreasonable. Petitioner denied costs associated with a college nursing program and denied maintenance benefits while engaged in an unreasonable vocational rehabilitation plan. 

  • Dominic Procopio v. Breakwater Electric, Inc., 13 IWCC 27 (2013)
    The opinions of an IME physician can carry greater weight and be adopted over the opinions of a treating physician.
  • Olga Moradel v. Whispering Winds Condo Association, 13 IWCC 720 (2013)
    The victim of an act of violence must show the employment placed him/her at an increased risk of violence than is faced by the general public to establish compensability. Compensation denied as petitioner failed to present credible evidence of an increased risk of injury.
  • R.D. Masonry, Inc. v. Industrial Commission, Supreme Court of Illinois, 215 Ill.2d 399 (2005)
    Favorable Decision on behalf of employers finding a claimant must attend a properly scheduled independent medical examination even where benefits are in dispute or risk a denial of benefits for a failure to comply with Section 12 of the Act.

Community

  • Wheaton Park District Boy’s Baseball Coach, 2012-2013
  • Upward Boy’s Basketball Coach, 2013-2017
  • Marianjoy Rehabilitation Center Volunteer, 2007
  • Member and Co-Captain Chicago Wheelchair Cubs Softball Team, 1999-2002, 2002 National Champions, featured Wheelchair Sports Athlete Fox Sports Network 2002
  • Legal Consultant – Glenbard High School Mock Trial Team, 2000
  • Chicago Wheelchair Bulls Basketball Team, 1990-1995
  • Board Member and Co-Founder of the Chicagoland Alliance for Disabled Owned Businesses (2022-Present)