Mitchell W. Horwitz
Principal Partner
Mitch believes that the dynamics of every case are unique, and he has seen many thousands of them. He is known for developing groundbreaking legal theories to apply to workplace injury cases. He is also known for his detailed memory. Although the opposing side always sets up roadblocks in workers’ compensation cases that must be overcome, injury attorneys who devote sufficient time and resources to a case can form very good ideas about which direction is likely to yield the best results.
On many occasions, Mitch and other workers’ injury lawyers at the Horwitz firm have skillfully prosecuted cases that other law firms considered overly difficult. Clients have sometimes recovered millions of dollars with Mitch’s assistance after other firms have denied representation or counseled workers to accept low-ball settlements.
Primary Practice Focus
As the head of the workers’ compensation practice at Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates, Mitch has handled thousands of cases from arbitration through the appellate courts. Over the course of his career, he has obtained many scores of millions of dollars for his clients.
In September of 2019, the Governor of Illinois, J.B. Pritzker, appointed Mitch to the Workers’ Compensation Advisory Board to represent employee interests. As a Board Member, Mitch assists the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC) in formulating policies, setting priorities, and developing administrative goals. The Board makes recommendations to the governor regarding Commission appointments. The Board consists of twelve members appointed by the Governor: six representatives of employees and six representatives of employers.
In-Depth Look
Mitch is responsible for many of the day-to-day business functions of his firm’s paperless offices, where he has practiced since 1979. His organizational and communication skills – as well as his initiative and credibility – help Mitch excel during negotiations.
Among the many thousands of workers’ compensation cases Mitch has successfully resolved over the years are the following:
- A union electrician suffering from myofascial pain disorder saw more than an eleven-fold increase in a $45,000 settlement offer after Mitch caught a doctor providing prepared cross-examination questions and answers to an insurance company defense attorney. The doctor had denied repeatedly under oath the possibility that such a document existed.
- A hard-fought, court-ordered college education for a disabled electrician was awarded. The electrician obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, paid for by Workmen’s Compensation. He was hired as a staff accountant by the Central Intelligence Agency in Langley Virginia in 2009, where he lives now with his family.
- A person with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome (RSD) received a $2 million settlement. The condition, also known as Type I Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, can involve severe burning pain, pathological changes in bone and skin, tissue swelling and extreme sensitivity to touch.
- A bulldozer operator recovered a $500,000 settlement for his ongoing and sometimes debilitating back injuries. The Horwitz firm had prevailed in arbitration, before the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission, and in Circuit Court. Although the employer’s insurance company then took the case to the Illinois Appellate Court, it settled before the appeal was decided.
Mitch was born in Chicago and graduated from New Trier High School. He currently resides with his family in Evanston. Among the activities, he enjoys in his spare time are golf and fishing.
Contact Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates today to learn how Mitchell Horwitz can help you with your Chicago injury case.
