Attorney Bio
An accomplished trial attorney. Frank is the managing partner at Rathbun, Cservenyak & Kozol LLC. Frank has tried cases in Federal and State courts throughout Northern Illinois. He has successfully handled personal injury cases including wrongful death, construction, automobile, and premises liability cases.
One of Frank's most notable cases is the $8.1 million dollar verdict in the William Hickey case. Bill was a hard-working member of the Public Works team when a bus turned left in front of him and caused him to lose his right leg below the knee. The verdict was a record in Cook County for a single-leg amputation case.
Frank has been active in the Bar Association. He was the President of the Will County Bar Association and brought about new and innovative things during his tenure.
Frank is also active in the community, raising money for local charities – Big Brothers Big Sisters and Morning Star Mission. He also supports the local youth sports teams. He and his wife, Marla, of over 32 years, have raised 4 children of their own and supported many organizations.
PRACTICE AREAS
- Personal Injury
- Motor Vehicle Accidents
- Slip and Fall Accidents
- Wrongful Death Cases
- Workplace Injuries
- Dog Bite Injuries
- Product Liability Cases
+ Career Highlights
- Rathbun, Cservenyak & Kozol LLC., the largest law firm in Will County, 1998 – Present
- Managing Partner since 2000
- Manages 14 attorneys, 25 staff
- Developed in-house training and continuing education seminars for attorneys
- Developed trial skills, trial tactics; How to Win at Trial
- Will County Bar Association, President, 2012 – 2013
- Rules of Practice Committee of Will County to amend and revise the local court rules of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit, Member, 2011
- Will Grundy Medical Clinic, Board of Directors, 2011 – Present
- Legal Analyst for WJOL, 1340 AM, 2005 – Present
- Will County Arbitrator, 2000 – Present
- Rathbun, Cservenyak & Associates evolving to Rathbun, Cservenyak & Kozol LLC, Founding Partner, 1998
- McKeown Law Firm of Joliet, Partner, 1996 – 1998
- McKeown Law Firm of Joliet, Associate, 1992 – 1996
- Will County Assistant State's Attorney's Office of Edward R. Burmilla, 1991 – 1992
- First Chair Felony Prosecutor
- Prosecuted First Degree Murder Cases
- Member of the Drug Enforcement Unit
- Kane County Assistant State's Attorney's Office of Gary V. Johnson, 1990 – 1991
- Prosecuted juvenile delinquency & DCFS abuse and neglect cases.
- Responsible for the Elgin Mental Health call for involuntary commitment hearings.
+ Bar Admissions
- Illinois, 1988
- Federal Trial Bar, 1988
- 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, 1988
+ Education
- Graduate of Drake Law School – Doctor of Jurisprudence, 1988
- Intern, U.S. Attorney's Office Des Moines, 1987 – 1988
- Intern, U.S. Attorney's Office Chicago, 1987
- Graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University – BA, Political Science with Honors, 1985
- Member of the National Fraternity – PHI Gamma Delta
- Member of the United Nations collegiate team that participated in the National Competition St. Louis, Missouri, 1984
- Played on the IWU Illinois Football Teams, 1981 – 1984
+ Honors and Awards
- Super Lawyers, 2014 – 2016, 2018 - Present
- Top Attorneys, 2014 – Present
- Client Satisfaction Award, 2016
+ Professional Associations & Memberships
- Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, 1992 – Present
- Illinois State Bar Association, 1992 – Present
- American Trial Lawyer Association/American Association for Justice, Member, 1996 – Present
- Will County Bar Association, Member, 1992 – 2015
- Will County Bar Association, Board Member, 2007 – 2009
- Will County Bar Association, Treasurer, 2009 – 2010
- Will County Bar Association, First Vice President, 2011 – 2012
- Will County Bar Association, President, 2012 – 2013
+ Presentations
- Will County Mega Seminars: Opening Statements: Story Telling with a Purpose: Combating Defense Attribution Theory, 2003
- Will County Mega Seminars: Closing Arguments: The Explanation of a Trial: How to Empower your Jury, 2004
- Will County Bar Civil Seminar: Cross Examination: How to Effectively Elicit Favorable Testimony from Adverse Witnesses, 2007
- Will County Bar Civil Seminar: Final Trial Preparation: Answering Ready When the Trial Bell Rings, 2010
- Legal Analyst for WJOL 1340AM, local radio station with listeners throughout south suburban Chicago, 2005 – Present
- Will County Bar Civil Seminar: How to Effectively use the Rules of Evidence, 2015 – Present
- Trial Skills Seminar – Effective use of Cross Examination, 2020
+ Case Highlights
- $8.1 million for motorcycle driver struck by a CTA Bus
- $7.6 Millionfor a wrongful death case/trucking accident
- $2.4 million for a construction worker injured on a scissor lift
- $2 million for a truck driver crushed by a shifting load
- $1 million settlement for a vehicle rear-ended by a semi-truck
- $1 million recovery for school children poisoned by tainted chicken. Defendants also prosecuted criminally for their misconduct.
- $1 million settlement for a man with 3rd degree burns – Premises Liability
- $975,000 for a trucking accident rear-end collision causing cervical herniation and surgery
- $900,000 to the Estate of an elderly woman abused/neglected in nursing home
- $850,000 settlement for injured worker on workers' compensation claim
- $775,000 settlement for estate of motorcycle passenger when semi turned left in front of motorcycle
- $775,000 for a retiree passenger in a vehicle on way to annual fishing trip in Canada
- $775,000 settlement for female executive rear-ended by tractor trailer on I-55
- $650,000 for an insulator who fell in an open hole on a worksite – Construction Negligence OSHA violation
- $675,000 recovery for client turning left when hit by driver disregarding red light
- $650,000 for a motorcycle driver cut off by a delivery person turning left
- $625,000 settlement for a Minnesota college student struck by a car
- $625,000 for minors of man crushed between a stalled car and assisting vehicle
- $605,000 recovery in wrongful death action against a rural county police department for engaging in police pursuit with teenagers on an ATV
- $600,000 third-party settlement for a 61-year-old bus aide with three-part comminuted left humeral head fracture and multiple blunt trauma injuries
- $600,000 settlement for client hit head-on by driver who fell asleep and crossed center line
- $525,000 for a minor with multiple facial fractures injured in a rear-end MVA with semi
- $500,000 recovery for a client making a left turn and hit by a motorist failing to stop
- $500,000 for wrongful death caused by head-on collision
- $500,000 settlement for a rear-end 3-car collision
- $500,000 recovery for passenger sideswiped by semi-truck as it attempted to change lanes
- $500,000 for a car accident case requiring lumbar surgery
- $403,000 policy limit recovery for death of a young woman in I-80 crash
- $400,000 settlement to a motorcyclist hit by vehicle turning left in his path
- $390,000 recovery for woman with knee injury caused by a slip and fall in a shopping mall due to a leaking sky light
- $330,000 for 56-year-old with a right hip fracture caused by a slip and fall at a retail store
- $250,000 policy recovery for woman with numerous traumatic injuries sustained in a head-on collision
- $250,000 settlement for passenger in a vehicle that was hit by a driver turning left and caused to crash into two more vehicles
- $210,000 for an electrician with fracture of distal fibula caused by falling wall – Construction Negligence
- $200,000 settlement for pizza delivery man with MVA-caused lateral meniscus tear with prior injury to the same knee
- $190,000 for products liability against distributor of table saw; tips of fingers cut requiring surgery
- $180,000 settlement for motorcyclist rear-ended while turning into entranceway
- $180,000 settlement for elderly woman who was a passenger on a transit bus involved in crash
- $140,000 for World War II veteran who tripped and fell at Dominick's causing fracture of femoral head
- $125,000 recovery for injuries sustained as a result of negligent failure to install gutters on garages resulting in unnatural accumulation of ice on apartment complex parking lot
- $105,000 recovery for 73-year-old champion bowler with de Quervain's Syndrome
- Numerous policy limit recoveries for clients injured in automobile accidents.
- Lead attorney on behalf of Menard, Inc. in Federal Court regarding complex litigation in the recovery of $1.5 million in damages to a retaining wall.
+ Recommendations
- David Riddle recommended Frank S. Cservenyak, Jr.
- The first time I met Frank was at the Courthouse when my previous attorneys were abandoning me. Frank took my case when everyone else told me no. It wasn't easy, but we won. Frank never gave up and I got the results that compensated me for my injury.
- John Smith recommended Frank S. Cservenyak, Jr.
- When I came to the law firm of Rathbun, Cservenyak & Kozol LLC., I came for one reason and that was to be compensated for my injuries. When the case settled for one million dollars I got more than just a settlement. I had become good friends with Frank, who fought and battled for me every step.
- We have many repeat clients who come to us for all of life's challenges
- Always have received excellent help from the attorneys in the firm. Frank C and Carl B handled our last cases very well.
Our firm provides legal help to clients in Will County, DuPage County, and Cook County. We have offices in Joliet and Naperville, and we assist with legal matters in Mokena, Frankfort, New Lenox, Tinley Park, Orland Park, Homer Glen, Lockport, Shorewood, Romeoville, Bolingbrook, Plainfield, Lemont, Darien, Woodridge, Downers Grove, Lisle, Oak Brook, Lombard, Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, Warrenville, West Chicago, Aurora, and the surrounding areas.
Results listed are not a guarantee or indication of future case results.
Results listed are not a guarantee or indication of future case results.
