Charles Candiano

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  You and I will discuss your claim until I am satisfied that I can help and your questions are answered, WITHOUT cost or obligation.
• Contingent Fees
  Our fee on Personal Injury cases is 1/3 of the recovery and costs. Our fee on Workers' Compensation cases is set by statute at 20% of Settlement or Award and costs

Illinois

Since 1995

Indiana

Since 1996

Federal Circuit

Since 1995

Owner

Candiano Law Office

2013 - Current

Trial Attorney

The Margolis Firm, PC

2004 - 2013

Trial Attorney

Margolis & Velasco

2001 - 2004

Trial Attorney

Rusin, Patton, Maciorowski & Friedman

2000 - 2001

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney

Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, Lake County Indiana

1996 - 1999

The John Marshall Law School

J.D. (1995)

Chicago Bar Association

Chair Professional Fees Committee

2017 - Current

Indiana State Bar

Member

2006 - Current

Illinois Trial Lawyers Association

2001 - Current

Q. Should I ask for more compensation in my Tort Claim against the city for sewer damage?

March 19, 2025

A: I disagree with your strategy. A far better course of action is to file a claim with your insurance company. If the insurance company wants to pursue a claim against the City of Hobart, that is their prerogative. BE CAREFUL!!! you cannot sue a municipal entity unless you file a tort claims notice within the required period of 180 to 270 days. I do not know the specific time for your location. If you fail to file the claim with your insurance so that your insurance is able to file a tort claims notice, your insurance may refuse to cover the claim because you would have prevented them from recovering from the city of Hobart. Immediately make a claim with your insurance company and cross your fingers that you have not let too much time elapse. I would also add that unless the plumber who told you that the city was entirely at fault can be qualified as an expert to render that opinion, he will not be permitted to testify in Court. To prove your claim that the city was responsible, you would need to retain a certified expert or former city employee who worked on the sewers and possesses the requisite training and experience such that the Court would allow that individual to provide expert testimony. Without that, you lose automatically. ... Read More

Q. Consequences of improper left yield ticket with collision in Illinois?

March 17, 2025

A: The responding officer cited you for failure to yield the right-of-way and you did fail to yield or there would not have been an accident. I'm sure there was damage to both vehicles and by morning the other driver and/or passengers will experience some symptoms and may go to the ER. All of which is to say that your insurance company is going to have to pay significant money so be prepared for your rates to increase. Immediately contact your insurance carrier and ask them how they want you to proceed. (i.e. Is it ok for you to plead guilty/pay the ticket?) Do whatever they tell you as you are obligated to cooperate with them. In exchange, they are obligated to defend the inevitable claims against you. Good luck. ... Read More

Q. Negotiating wrongful death settlement in Illinois led to pressured agreement; attorney left shortly after. What are my options?

March 17, 2025

A: If you haven't signed any documents, your case is NOT settled. NO Insurance company is going to order a check until they have your executed release. If you did not file a lawsuit, the statute of limitations is NOT tolled.

Before an attorney conveys an offer on the case, the attorney should explain exactly what the insurance company's rationale is in making the offer. Moreover, the attorney should be prepared to tell you whether he recommends that you accept the settlement. If the attorney recommends the settlement, he should be prepared to explain why he recommends that you accept the settlement. If the attorney can't explain why you should accept the offer, why would you accept it? As indicated above, until you sign a release, NOTHING is settled, for ANY amount.

I know nothing about your case and have no opinion as to how much it is worth. That said, if you hire another attorney, what is his incentive to devote the considerable time necessary to read through the documents and come to his own conclusion about case value unless you sign an hourly contract? If the 2nd attorney charges you $400 per hour and spends 50 hours reviewing the file, you would owe that attorney $20,000 even if the 2nd attorney's opinion is that the case is only worth $250,000. Are you willing and able to do that? Moreover, very few attorneys are willing to work on an hourly basis unless you fund a retainer BEFORE the work is performed.

There are many potential scenarios for your 1st attorney's compensation but you probably hired that attorney on a contingency fee basis of 1/3 or 40%, so you are already obligated to pay between $83,000 and $100,000 to that attorney. ... Read More

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