Jill S. Bollwerk
Top rated Personal Injury attorney in St. Louis, Missouri
Bollwerk & Associates, LLC
Practice Areas: Personal Injury, Workers' Compensation, Insurance Coverage; view more
Licensed in Missouri since: 1991
Education: Saint Louis University School of Law
Languages Spoken: English, Spanish
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2019 - 2024 Call today:
314-315-8111
Bollwerk & Associates, LLC
12250 Weber Hill RdSuite 125
St. Louis, MO 63127 Visit website
Details
Attorney Jill S. Bollwerk is a partner with the Bollwerk & Associates, LLC, law firm in St. Louis, Missouri. A top-rated trial lawyer with more than 33 years of legal experience, Ms. Bollwerk devotes her practice to advocating on behalf of those who have been seriously injured in car, motorcycle or truck crashes, workers' compensation cases, and serious premises liability cases. Licensed to practice in Missouri and Illinois, she represents clients throughout Missouri and around the surrounding areas of the greater St. Louis metro region in Illinois.
At all turns, Ms. Bollwerk delivers compassionate, personalized counsel to her clients and responds to their calls and emails promptly to address their questions and concerns and to provide updates as to the status of their cases. Her passion is trying cases before juries. Recognized for her professionalism and her unwavering commitment to those she serves, she has earned an AV Preeminent peer review rating* from Martindale-Hubbell along with numerous other accolades from her peers and many positive testimonials and referrals from her satisfied clients.
After graduating in the top 5 percent of her class from Southern Illinois University — Carbondale in 1988, Ms. Bollwerk attended Saint Louis University School of Law, where she obtained her Juris Doctor in 1991. The Missouri Bar admitted her to practice that same year, and the Illinois State Bar Association admitted her in 1993. She is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri and the Southern District of Illinois, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit.
Highly active in her field, Ms. Bollwerk is a member of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, where she is on the Board of Governors and co-chairs the organization's Emergency Response Team. She is also a member of the American Association for Justice, The Women Lawyers Association--St. Louis, The Workers' Injury Law & Advocacy Group, The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys, among her other professional affiliations. Furthermore, she has several publications to her credit regarding workers' compensation litigation, jury selection, subrogation, effectively establishing a solo practice and other subjects.
Jill is also a certified civil mediator with Lexitas ADR. She is happy to help other attorneys mediate their disputes. As a mediator, she is a member of the Association of Attorney Mediators and the Association of Missouri Mediators.
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
Practice areas
Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff, Workers' Compensation: Claimant, Insurance CoverageFocus areas
Bad Faith Insurance, Brain Injury, Construction Accident, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Personal Injury - Plaintiff, Premises Liability - Plaintiff, Trucking Accidents, Wrongful Death
- 50% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff
- 40% Workers' Compensation: Claimant
- 10% Insurance Coverage
First Admitted: 1991, Missouri
Professional Webpage: http://www.bollwerktatlow.com/bio/jill-s-bollwerk.cfm
Videos:
- ERISA Plan's Right of Subrogation, Attorneys, Case Managers, Public
Educational Background:
- SIU Carbondale, B.A., Major: Communications / Radio-Television, Honors: Top 5% of her Class, December, 1987
Representative Clients:
- Multiple Police officers for various cities and municipalities, 2015
- Multiple truckers for Yellow Freight/Roadway, 2014
Special Licenses/Certifications:
- Rule 17 Certified Mediator, 2016
Other Outstanding Achievements:
- Candidate for 21st Circuit Judicial Commission, 2017 (this is the commission that interiews and selects judicial candidates to be presented to the governor for appointment under the Missouri Non Partisan Court Plan)., 2017
White Papers:
- A free publication that discusses the workers' compensation claims procedure and knowing when you should hire an attorney., How To Handle your Workers' Compensation Claim Yourself, and How to Know When it is Time to Hire an Attorney!, Injured Workers In Missouri, 2018
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- Annual Trial Masters Seminar, Mock Trial Presenter--conducted a mock plaintiff's voir dire, Lawyers Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, https://lawyersassociationofstlouis.org/app/uploads/2019/02/Lawyers-Association-Newsletter-2-2019.pdf, Trial Attorneys, Every year, the Lawyers Association of St. Louis presents a 4-hour mock trial to the legal community, and the presenters are considered some of the most esteemed and experienced in the area. Jill was asked to participate this year and handled the Plaintiff's voir dire for an audience of over 100 lawyers, 2019, 2019
- Co-Presenter, The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis Bench and Bar--Trial Masters: Objections from Start to Finish, The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, https://www.bamsl.org/, Attorneys Of All Areas Of Practice And Judges From The St. Louis Metropolitan Area Courts, Jill spoke, along with The Hon. Stephen Ohmer, and Attorney Eric Martin, about the ins and outs of making objections in written discovery, depositions, pre-trial motions and throughout the trial, 2019, 2019
- Presenter on IMEs and their ethical issues, The Missouri Bar Annual Workers' Compensation Institute, The Missouri Bar, http://mobar.peachnewmedia.com/store/seminar/seminar.php?seminar=135726, Attorneys And Administrative Law Judges, Jill spoke from the claimant's perspective about the mechanics and ethics of obtaining expert opinion testimony, 2019, 2019
- Speaker, Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, https://www.matanet.org/, Plaintiff's Attorneys, Provided training on Missouri Emergency Response Team, 2018, 2018
- Presenter, National Business Institute, https://www.nbi-sems.com/ProductDetails/Eliminating-Minimizing-Liens-in-Personal-Injury-Settlements/OnDemand-Audio/78843SADM_ILCLEET144200000?pt=1, Attorneys And Paralegals, Eliminating and Minimizing Liens in Personal Injury Settlements, Spoke on investigation and negotiation of all types of liens and subrogation interests that face a personal injury practitioner, 2018, 2018
- Presenter, Understanding and Resolving Issues Regarding ERISA, Medicare, Medicaid, Disability Benefits and Unpaid Medical, Missouri Division of Worker's Compensation Annual Conference, https://labor.mo.gov/sites/labor/files/Understanding-and-Resolving-ERISA-Medicare-etc.pdf, Attorneys, Case Managers, Insurance Adjusters And Administrative Law Judges, Spoke to participants about all of the many subrogation, lien and reimbursement issues that arise in workers' compensation cases, as well as issues regarding unpaid medical bills, 2016, 2016
- Moderator, Reptile Theory: The New Frontier of Trial Practice, United States Arbitration and Mediation, https://usam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/2.24.17-MO.pdf, Attorneys And Mediators, Moderated a discussion among plaintiff's lawyers and defendant's lawyers in how the Reptile theory is used in their practices, 2017, 2017
- Speaker, The Paralegal's Guide to Auto Accident, Institute for Paralegal Education, https://ipe.nbi-sems.com/, Litigation Paralegals And Assistants, Participated in a recorded seminar to be presented througout the country to paralegals on the subject of auto injury litigation. I spoke specifically on Case Intake and Investigation, as well as Evidence and Discovery, 2015, 2015
- "Selecting the Right Jury for Your Case," NBI, Inc. 2012, 2012
- "Subrogation Issues and Procedures", NBI, Inc., 2012, 2012
- 3 Chapters of "How to Start Your Own Solo Practice", NBI, Inc., 2007, 2007
- "Litigating the Claim" The First Step and "The Hearing" - Workers' Compensation Hearings in Missouri, NBI, Inc., 2000 - 2001, 2000
Pro bono/Community Service:
- Volunteer mediator for St. Louis County landlord/tenant court, assisting pro se landlords and tenants in resolving their disputes. , 2019
- Active in BAMSL Motion for Kids and MATA's Emergency Response Team, which brings free legal help to victims of natural disasters, in coordination with the Red Cross., 2018
Honors/Awards:
- AV Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell, 2020
- Volunteer of the Year, Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, Award given in recognition for co-chairing and participating in the creation of the Emergency Response Team, which provides free legal assistance to people affected by natural disasters. Also, for participating in volunteer efforts through Trial Lawyers Care, 2014
Bar/Professional Activity:
- Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District of Missouri, 2020
- Member, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis. Also, Jill is a member of the Workers' Compensation Committee., 2020
- Illinois, 1993, 2020
- Member, Workers' Injury Law & Advocacy Group, 2020
- Member, National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives, 2020
- Mound City Bar Association, 2017, 2019
- Member, Missouri Bar Association, 2020
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Illinois, 1993, 2020
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Missouri, 1991, 2020
- U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 1991, 2020
- Lawyers Association of St. Louis, 1995, 2020
- Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis---2016-present--member of the Worker's Compensation Section. Formerly a high school mock trial coach for three different area high schools through BAMSL. Volunteer for Motion for Kids (formerly Project Angel Tree) party every year, 1991, 2020
- Member, Illinois State Bar Association, 1993, 2020
- The Missouri Bar, 1991, 2020
- Member, American Association for Justice (Formerly ATLA), 1992, 2020
- Women's Lawyer Association of Greater St. Louis---Current Board Member of the WLA Foundation. Planning committee of WLA Holiday Party for charity, 2019., 2020
- Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys---member, Emergency Response Team, 2020
Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):
- JURY VERDICT--$500,000 jury verdict for farm employee severely injured when run over by a grain trailer. , 2023
- $450,000 settlement with police officer's private insurance company for uninsured motorist benefits when he was struck by an uninsured motorist. , 2024
- $250,000 workers' compensation settlement for worker who developed long COVID after being exposed at work in a nursing home in 2020. , 2022
- $160,000 workers' compensation settlement in a disputed death benefits case. The widow was grossly overpaid for a few years and the workers compnesation carrier stopped payments until the credit was recovered. We took on the case and convinced the insurer to take their credit over time, allowing the widow to start receiving regular benefits once again. At the widow's request, the case was thereafter resolved., 2019
- JURY VERDICT--$2,000,000 damages assessed (90% fault to plaintiff, net of $200,000)--Breosha Johnson v. First Student, City of St. Louis Circuit Court., 2019
- $150,000 settlement for motorcyclist who ran into rear of a vehicle turning left on a country road. Arm fracture and internal injuries. Injuries healed well. Settled for other driver's $100,000 policy limits, plus an additional $50,000 from plaintiff's underinsured motorist carrier. Jason L. v. Kenneth U. (Iron County, settled before filing suit), 2019
- JURY VERDICT--$63,500. Suzanne Alt v. USAA, tried over four days before Judge Roither. This was an underinsured motorist case where plaintiff brought a claim against her own insurance company for underinsured motorist benefits and medical payments benefits. , 2019
- JURY VERDICT--$600,598.88 --Henderson v. Shelter Mutual Ins. Co., Tried in Jefferson County Circuit Court, Verdict A: jury assessed damages of $500,000 with 30% fault to plaintiff (judgment entered on policy limits of $50,000 on Verdict A); Verdict B: Jury awarded $5,150 in penalties, $12,498.88 in interest, and $82,950 in attorney's fees. Jury found that plaintiff's insurance company wrongfully refused to pay her $50,000 of uninsured motorist benefits when she was run off the road by a driver who blinded her with its bright lights and caused her to go into a ditch. Plaintiff suffered fractured eye sockets, nose, and leg, 2018, 2018
- JURY VERDICT--$50,000.00 (defendant's policy limits)--Jefferson County Circuit Court--Massey v. Wade. Plaintiff was making a left turn onto Highway 55 from I-141 when defendant violated a steady red electric signal. Suffered an unoperated herniated disc in the neck, treated conservatively. Jury award was almost double the pre-trial offer from the defendant's insurer. Jury verdict after two-day trial before Judge Melenbrink., 2018
- JURY VERDICT--$5,000 awarded to plaintiff who injured her neck and knee in side impact auto collision. Trial in Jefferson County, MO April 3-5, 2019. Motions for New Trial were filed by plaintiff, 2019. Case settled on appeal. , 2019
- WORKERS COMPENSATION HEARING AWARD: $2.2 million workers' compensation award (value of permanent total disability award based on life expectancy). Police officer suffering from post traumatic stress disorder due to combination of last work incident in combination with prior work incidents. JC v. Second Injury Fund, 2018, 2018
- $99,000 settlement in St. Charles County Circuit Court. Plaintiff's vehicle was struck by a vehicle which left the scene of the crash. Plaintiff's vehicle spun out and then hit the concrete barrier. Plaintiff suffered an aggravation of a prior neck injury and also sustained a rotator cuff tear which was not discovered for more than a year after the crash. Defendant originally claimed his vehicle did not strike plaintiff's vehicle, 2018, 2018
- $219,978 workers' compensation settlements for police officer suffering from post traumatic stress disorder due to separate shooting incidents. Lifetime benefits awarded against Second Injury Fund in separate proceeding, 2018, 2018
- $325,000 combined wrongful settlement: Schroeder v. Murphy, American Family and Archway Memorial Chapel--settlement totaling $325,000 awarded for the death of a motorcycle funeral escort who was struck while proceeding through a red light. Case settled a approximately 1 month before trial. Settlement obtained as follows: $100,000 policy limits of the responsible driver; $150,000 uninsured motorist limits paid due to the acts of a phantom motorist, $75,000 settlement with funeral home that planned the procession, 2018, 2018
- $47,154 workers' compensation settlement for work-related car crash, elbow impingement and lumbar herniated disc. TF v. Employer, 2018, 2018
- $60,000 workers' compensation settlement (maximum settlement authority) Dennis P. v. SIF, 2018, 2018
- JURY TRIAL--Verdict for Defendant, but $50,000 paid by defendant to plaintiff due to a high/low agreement entered pre-trial. Plaintiff was a passenger in a vehicle driven by her husband. Husband was waved on to turn left by a stopped vehicle and when he turned, their vehicle was struck. Voss v. Lynn and National General Insurance Online, St. Louis County Circuit Court, 2017, 2017
- $66,685.89 workers' compensation settlement for hip injury to trucker. MM v. Employer, 2017, 2017
- $125,000 settlement for passenger thrown from vehicle in a crash in Ste. Genevieve County who sustained back injury. FB v. AA, 2017, 2017
- $50,000 policy limits settlement against driver who overturned his vehicle and was in the middle of the road with no lights. Plaintiff struck the vehicle, sustaining a hand injury. St. Louis City Circuit Court--Dennis P. v. Nicholas W, 2017, 2017
- $200,000 settlement shortly before trial in Monroe County Circuit Court for motorcyclist who fractured his leg when he lost control of his motorcycle. He alleged that he was forced to switch lanes in a construction zone from lower pavement to high pavement because a piece of construction equipment was coming at him in his lane of travel. He alleged that he did not have adequate warning of the oncoming equipment in order to safely change lanes. Minks v. WL Miller, 2017, 2017
- $100,000 settlement (policy limits) for injured shoulder in St. Louis City auto crash, plus $50,000 underinsured motorist settlement with plaintiff's own insurance company on suit filed in US District Court. ML v.ST; ML v. Geico, 2016, 2016
- $60,000 workers' compensation settlement (maximum settlement authority)Floyd H. v. Second Injury Fund, 2015, 2015
- $400,000 settlement of third party suit filed by injured worker who was hurt on the job by another worker, who was working for a different entity (Confidential), 2015, 2015
- $60,000 workers' compensation settlement (maximum settlement authority) David S. v. Second Injury Fund, 2015, 2015
- $60,000 workers' compensation settlement (maximum settlement authority) Robert S. v. Second Injury Fund, 2015, 2015
- $91,000 uninsured motorist settlement plus $36,854.40 workers' compensation settlement for employee who injured head and neck in work-related car crash. Robert M. v. Allstate (uninsured motorist case); Robert M. v. Reliable (workers' compensation case), 2015, 2015
- $85,000 settlement for woman injured in fall near soda fountain at Taco Bell. BG v. Taco Bell, 2015
- $54,847.87 workers' compensation settlement for hand injury; also assisted with employee's Social Security disability appeal and won. Floyd H. v. Employer, 2015
- $44,948 workers compensation settlement for shoulder injury. GH v. Employer, 2014
- $150,000 worker's compensation settlement for worker who sustained multiple chemical sensitivities after being exposed to a chemical at work in a dental office. CR v. DA, 2014
- $54,304.90 workers' compensation settlement for leg injury, Ted L. v. St. Louis Co., 2014
- $50,808 workers' compensation settlement following hardship award that was upheld by the Labor and Industrial Relations Comission, ordering employer to provide disputed back surgery. Settlement was for permanent partial disability for the back after the awarded surgery. Smuzeski v. Altec, 2014
- $100,000 workers' compensation settlement for widow whose husband died in a crash after suffering a heart attack. Kathryn N. v Parsons. Case was hotly contested as to whether the decedent's heart attack occurred before the crash, or whether the decedent died as a result of the crash. We had previously won the widow's contested accidental death appeal against Cigna Insurance, resulting in a payount of $600,000, 2014
- $150,000 settlement--Limberg v. McBroom and Continental Western Ins. --the insurance company for the third party driver paid its $100,000 policy limits, and plaintiff's underinsured motorist carrier paid its $50,000 limits after an ambulance attendant suffered injuries when a driver failed to yield to the ambulance, causing a crash, 2014
- Workers' Compensation Award valued at $900,000 over lifetime--Fronek v. Production Delivery --Workers' compensation award for permanent total disability benefits rendered October 2017 (affirmed by Labor and Industrial Relations Commission, 2018): Award for permanent total disability benefits from August 4, 2013 for life (resulting in back benefits award of $192,096 plus $736.15/weekly for the life of plaintiff), also $6444.95 in unpaid medical expresses awarded, 2017, 2017
- Jury Verdict $50,000--Massey v. Sumner---Jury verdict entered in Jefferson County Circuit court on 8.8.18 for $50,000 policy limits. Automobile crash. Defendant ran a red light and struck plaintiff as he was turning onto highway 55. Plaintiff suffered a herniated cervical disc, 2018
Industry Groups:
- General working public
- Truckers
Office location for Jill S. Bollwerk
12250 Weber Hill Rd
Suite 125
St. Louis, MO 63127
Phone: 314-315-8111
Selections
6 Years Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyers: 2019 - 2024
