Toney Tomaso
Toney subscribes to consistent and open communication, including on-site meetings, to enable and form trust within the team. This formula has proven effective in protecting the client's most important asset - their business.
- Rated AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®
- Chair of Workers' Compensation Practice Group
- Firm mentor
Toney Tomaso
Attorney in Champaign, IL
Toney fosters a team approach strategy to defend Workers' Compensation claims. He takes pride in identifying and placing the right people around the table to tap into their expertise, recognizing that he doesn't have all the answers. Toney believes collaboration can help clarify a picture and assist in making more informed choices to achieve better results.
As Chair of the firm's Workers' Compensation Practice working out of the Champaign and Edwardsville offices, Toney covers Workers' Compensation dockets and trials in most of Illinois and Missouri. He concentrates his practice in the areas of Workers' Compensation claims and appeals, protecting Workers' Compensation liens, and third-party defense of employers.
Active in the community, Toney has served on the Board of Directors of the Don Moyer Boys and Girls Club in Champaign for over 12 years, including three as its President. More recently, he has transitioned to the Club's Foundation Board, where he has played a pivotal role in successfully opening a new community-based children's center.
To "relax," no one is happier to hit the links than Toney. Despite his claim that he has one of the highest handicaps in the area, Toney simply enjoys the great outdoors and quality time with friends and colleagues.
Practices
Credentials
Education
J.D., Louisiana State University
B.A., University of Illinois, Golden Key Honor Society
Licensure(s) and Admission(s)
State Courts of Illinois
State Courts of Missouri
United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois
Professional Affiliations
Champaign County Bar Association
Defense Research Institute
Workers’ Compensation Committee
Illinois Chamber of Commerce
Workers’ Compensation Division
Illinois Defense Counsel
Illinois State Bar Association
Will County Bar Association
Community Involvement
Don Moyer Boys and Girls Club
Board of Directors, Past President
Lincolnshire Fields Country Club
Board of Directors, President
Results
- Land v. Montgomery – Eight-week medical malpractice class action lawsuit.
- Grant v. Clennon Electric, et al., 02-WC-10537/09 MR 503
Presentations/Publications
Presentations
“What You Don't Know Can Hurt You: How OSHA and Workers' Comp Intersect,” Defense Research Institute (DRI) (2023)
“Investigating Claims from a Workers' Compensation Perspective when Dealing with OCIP and CCIP Fact Patterns,” Defense Research Institute (DRI) (2023)
“The Gray Zone Between Workers’ Compensation Law and Employment Law,” Heyl Royster's 34th Annual Claims Handling Seminar (2023)
“COVID-19 Rebuttable Presumption, What We Are Seeing on the COVID-19 Front Lines and in the Trenches at the Commission,” Heyl Royster WC Webinar Series (2020)
“The Cannabis Act & Workers' Compensation in Illinois; A Primer on the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act; COVID-19 and the Rebuttable Presumption in Illinois,” Central Illinois Human Resources Group (2020)
“Pushing Your Claims Forward in an Aggressive Manner,” Gallagher Bassett (2019)
“Accident Caused By Risks Resulting from Everyday Activities: Moving Toward A New Standard?,” Illinois Association of County Board Members Seminar (2018)
“Combating the Opioid Crisis in the State of Illinois,” Heyl Royster’s 33rd Annual Claims Handling Seminar (2018)
“Workers’ Compensation Law Updates: 2018,” Workers’ Compensation Updates Seminar (2018)
“X’s and O’s: Practice Pointer Forum,” Heyl Royster's 32nd Annual Claims Handling Seminar (2017)
“'This Just In: AMA Is Doing Its Job' - An Update On The Job It’s Doing,” Heyl Royster 30th Annual Claims Handling Seminar (2015)
“AMA Impairment Ratings: Things Are Looking Up (Since the 2011 Amendments),” Heyl Royster 29th Annual Claims Handling Seminar (2014)
“Recent Impact of AMA Ratings in Workers’ Compensation,” Heyl Royster (2013)
“Use of Utilization Review Under the New Act,” Heyl Royster (2012)
“Opportunities for TTD Defenses,” Heyl Royster (2011)
“Repetitive Trauma Defense Strategies,” Heyl Royster (2010)
“Case Study: Respondent Attorney Trial Strategy Perspective,” SafeWorks Illinois 17th Annual Work Injury Conference, Champaign, IL (2009)
“Workers Compensation Law Update,” Lorman Seminar (2008)
“Arising Out Of, When Should Your Case Be Arbitrated,” Heyl Royster (2008)
“Recent Developments In Workers’ Compensation,” Risk and Insurance Management Society (2007)
Awards/Recognition
- Leading Lawyer by Law Bulletin Media℠
- Rated AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®
Updates
Events
- Tomaso to Present at IACBM Annual Meeting - November 14, 2023, 1:45 PM-2:30 PM (US Central)
- Tomaso Joins 2023 DRI OSHA Virtual Boot Camp Speakers Panel - September 13, 2023, 12:00 PM-3:30 PM (US Central)
- 34th Annual Claims Handling Seminar - "We're Putting The Band Back Together" at St. Louis - June 22, 2023, 1:00 PM-5:30 PM (US Central)
- 34th Annual Claims Handling Seminar - "We're Putting The Band Back Together" at Bloomington/Normal - June 15, 2023, 1:00 PM-5:30 PM (US Central)
- 34th Annual Claims Handling Seminar - "We're Putting The Band Back Together" at Chicago - June 8, 2023, 1:00 PM-5:30 PM (US Central)
- Tomaso Shares Expertise at Defense Research Institute (DRI) - April 17, 2023
