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Legal Assistant – Belleville: Karen Weinland
Credentials
Education
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Southern Illinois University Carbondale – J.D. 1999, cum laude
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Southeast Missouri State University – B.A. in Political Science and Philosophy 1995, magna cum laude
Legal Services
- Civil Litigation
- Commercial Litigation
- Premises Liability
- Medical Malpractice
- Employment Law
- Creditors’ Rights
- Workers’ Compensation
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Personal Injury
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
Deanna L. Litzenburg
Bio
Deanna L. Litzenburg is a Vice President and shareholder with Mathis, Marifian & Richter, Ltd. who focuses her practice in civil litigation, commercial litigation, premises liability, medical malpractice, employment law, creditors’ rights, workers’ compensation and alternative dispute resolution.
Deanna is an outstanding attorney who pursues excellence in her service to clients. During her 20 years of experience as an attorney, she has dedicated her time to serving all types of clients including, but not limited to, hospitals, nursing homes, and product manufacturers throughout Southern Illinois with all of their litigation needs, equal employment issues, workers’ compensation claims, and various other employment issues. Deanna has successfully represented employers in many cases over her career including, but not limited to, Inter-City Products Corp. v. Industrial Commission, Dunklin v. Contempri Homes, Martha Embrich v. Memorial Hospital, and Fay Blakey v. Memorial Hospital.
Deanna is a certified mediator and serves as an arbitrator for both the St. Clair and Madison County Arbitration Programs. Deanna’s experience has made her a desired speaker at many seminars on workers’ compensation issues. Deanna has lectured for the National Business Institute’s Advanced Workers’ Compensation and other seminars. She has also spoken on employment issues several times at the firm’s annual seminars.
In her personal time, Deanna enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, reading and running. She has completed four half marathons.
Professional Affiliations
Deanna is a member of bar associations across Illinois and Missouri. In Illinois, she is a member of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, Illinois State Bar Association, St. Clair County Bar Association, and Madison County Bar Association. In Missouri, she is a member of The Missouri Bar and the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis. Deanna has been named to Who’s Who in American Law and Illinois’ Leading Lawyers for several consecutive years, which is only awarded to the top 5% of lawyers in each state. Additionally, she is chair of the ISBA Civil Practice and Procedure Section Council and is a member of the ISBA AI Committee. Deanna also is a member of the Bankruptcy Association of Southern Illinois.
Community Involvement
Deanna is active in her local community. Deanna is the Board Chair for the Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois, which covers 40.5 counties in Southern Illinois and serves over 11,000 girls and 4,500 adult members. As Board Chair, Deanna mentors the Girl Scouts in her council to become the leaders of tomorrow. She also sponsors the Youth Group at Hope Lutheran Church in Highland, Illinois. She is a member of the Highland Business Education Alliance and a member of the Highland Rotary Club. She is a proud supporter and graduate of the Leadership Belleville program.
Lectures
- “The CARES Act and Residential Mortgages” – Banking Seminar – Mathis, Marifian & Richter, Ltd. – April 2021
- “Employment Law” – Business Seminar – Mathis, Marifian & Richter, Ltd. – August 2019
- “Advanced Workers’ Compensation” seminar in Fairview Heights, National Business Institute, Illinois, 2007 – Present
- “Selected Issues in Workers’ Compensation”
- “The Illinois Insurance Guaranty Fund.”
- “Employment Law Update” presentation at MM&R’s Annual Tax Update & Planning Seminar. September 2009
Practice Highlights
Inter-City Products Corp. v. Industrial Commission, 326 Ill.App.3d 185, 759 N.E.2d 952 (Fifth 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.
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 stepped 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.
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 carpal tunnel 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 and affirmed by the Circuit Court of St. Clair County and the Fifth District Appellate Court.
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 millions 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.