Charles Candiano

• Free Consultation
  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. How to recover money after being shot by employer in Illinois?

August 18, 2025

A: Your best shot at recovery is if you were shot in the course and scope of your employment (while you were working). That is the ONLY circumstance where an insurance company will pay for an intentional act. Hire an attorney who is experienced in Workers' Compensation AND Personal Injury claims, ASAP. BOTH areas of law are handled on contingency, which means there is no upfront fee. Good luck.

Q. Should I hire an attorney for a $2000 insurance settlement for whiplash in Illinois?

August 18, 2025

A: Insurance companies don't work like that. If you were offered $2,000, that is also intended to cover your medical bills. You cannot take an ambulance for $2,000 or go to an ER, much less have an MRI and undergo PT. If you have private insurance, the insurance company has a subrogation interest. If you have Medicare or Medicaid, a lien is placed by them, as is the case with any medical provider who has not been paid. So, if you were offered $2,000, you would only get what is left over after paying off or repaying everyone. If you accept the settlement, the insurance company will deduct any sum paid by insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid.

That said, by definition, a grade 1 Whiplash does NOT require any ongoing care AND it means you have sustained NO "damage" to your neck. There is NOTHING for your physician to "assess." This is a minimal case, but you are entitled to SOME net recovery. The only way to ensure that outcome is to hire an attorney. ... Read More

Q. Can a nonprofit/religious organization in Marion County, Indiana file a lawsuit for verbal defamation?

July 25, 2025

A: Here are some thoughts you should bear in mind:

You cannot prosecute a defamation case without an attorney.

You will need to pay the attorney a retainer against which you will be billed by the hour. This gets very expensive.

As a church/religious organization, you may be classified as a "public figure," which would require that you prove "actual malice." (The declarent knew the statement was false at the time it was made, or Recklessly disregarded whether the statement was true or false.)

Remember, truth is an absolute defense. If there is any factual basis for the Defendant's statements, you lose.

It will probably be impossible for you to prove any pecuniary (Money) damages. You would need individuals who are prepared to testify, under oath, that but for the defamatory comments made by the declarant, that person was prepared to contribute $1000 (or any other specific sum of money) to your organization. If that person is testifying for you, he/she has likely made the contribution and you have no loss.

Remember, your attorney will bill you for every 10th of an hour at a rate of at least $400-$600 per hour and may have minimum charges in their contract. (i.e. .2 hrs. minimum for telephone calls; .3 hrs. minimum for emails; 1.0 hrs. for Court status; etc.) Written discovery and the associated communications would likely require 12 to 15 hours of work. Each deposition will require between 2 and 5 hours and you may need to hire an expert witness who will also require a retainer.

If you want to proceed, meet with a local attorney who does this work and seek their opinion as to whether the matter is viable (whether there is any likelihood of recovering as much as the matter will cost to prosecute). Initial consults for this type of work may be offered free or for a reduced flat rate. Good luck. ... Read More

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