Robert E. Wisniewski
Arizona workers’ compensation attorney
- Workers’ Compensation Certified Specialist (State Bar of Arizona)
- Fellow of The College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers (the only claimants’ lawyer in Arizona to be distinguished in this way)
- Over four decades of experience
Bob Wisniewski has one mission: “Justice for the injured worker.” For 45 years, Bob has devoted his practice to representing Arizona injured workers in more than 12,000 Industrial Commission hearings statewide.
By concentrating his law practice solely on workers’ compensation, Bob and his team of dedicated professional attorneys and staff can provide the highest level of service and the best possible results for their clients. Sensitive to the needs of his cross-cultural community of injured worker clients, almost all the staff are bilingual in Spanish. Breaking down communication barriers allows clients to be more at ease when working with the legal system.
Additionally, Bob is an active member of the legal community, actively writing and lecturing on all aspects of workers’ compensation law. He is an active member of the State Bar of Arizona, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Workers’ Injury Law & Advocacy Group (WILG), AZ Association of Lawyers for Injured Workers (AALIW), Association of Trial Lawyers of America and AZ Association for Justice.
In addition to representing injured workers from all industries such health services, landscaping and construction (to name a few), Bob is counsel for local professional athletes including the Arizona Cardinals, the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Arizona Coyotes, and the Tucson Roadrunners players.
Bob has been named a Workers’ Compensation Certified Specialist by the State Bar of Arizona, and he was recognized by his legal colleagues as a Fellow of the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers — the only claimants’ lawyer in Arizona so honored. For the past 10 years, Bob has been named a Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters, a top attorney in AZ & NM – Workers’ Compensation Law by Best Lawyers, won the Client Choice award, received a Phoenix Magazine Selectee award and a Phoenix Top Attorney distinction, to name just a few.
Bob is also actively involved in Kids’ Chance, an organization dedicated to providing scholarships to the children of Arizona’s injured workers. He serves on the Board of Directors and is present at their many community events. In 2008, he founded an educational scholarship to Phoenix College for minority students.
Practice areas:
Certified legal specialties
- Worker’s compensation law, AZ Board of Legal Specialization
Bar admissions
- Arizona, 1976
- U.S. District Court District of Arizona, 1976
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1984
- Supreme Court of the United States of America, 1985
Education
- University of Toledo College of Law, Toledo, Ohio
- J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence – 1976
- Upsala College, East Orange, New Jersey
- A.B., Bachelor of Arts – 1969
- Minor: Political Science
- University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
- M.P.A., Master of Public Administration – 1973
- Air Command & Staff College (United States Air Force) – 1982
- Universidad International Center for Linguistic & Multicultural Studies, Diploma, 2001, 2009, 2010 (Program in Intensive Spanish)
Honors and awards
- AVVO Lawyers Listing- Clients’ Choice, 2013 – 2018
- AVVO Lawyers Listing – Top Contributor, 2014 – 2018
- AVVO Lawyers Listing – Rating 10.0- Superb, 2015 – 2018
- Best Lawyers, Arizona and New Mexico – Workers’ Compensation Law, 2017 – Present
- Best Lawyers, Lawyer of the year- Workers’ Compensation Law, Claimant’s Law, 2017 – Present
- Awardee, Panel Counsel Member of the Year, Professional Hockey Players Association (PHPA), 2017 – Present
- Awardee, Kids chance of Arizona, Runner- up Diamond Award, (Annual Gala 2016 and 2017), 2016 – 2017
Integrity, care and compassion
“I hope this letter expresses my faith in your firm that you continue to fight and speak for those who cannot do so themselves. You have shown integrity, care and compassion concerning my case – as well as my self – personally, which most would not have bothered themselves with. This personal touch counts and I will definitely toot your horn for you whenever there is a need or opportunity to do so. Again, I thank you and I greatly appreciate what you have all done for me. You will all be in my heart and mind. Sincerely and with great appreciation.” – K.S.
You won’t be disappointed
“I hired Robert Wisniewski for my workers compensation claim. The Law Offices of Robert Wisniewski has been excellent with my claim. Bob is an awesome attorney who knows what he is doing! Bob takes his time with you and spends countless hours on your case. If you get hurt on the job call Bob. You won’t be disappointed with his service. Thank you for your hard work Bob.” – J.R.
Major cases
- Young v. Industrial Commission of Arizona, 63 P.3d 298, 1204 Ariz. 267, (App. 2003). Prior out-of-state industrial scheduled award. Converts Arizona scheduled injury to unscheduled.
- Tabler v. Industrial Commission of Arizona, 47 P.3d 1156, 202 Ariz. 518, (App. 2002). Oral Compromise and Settlement agreement may be approved and enforced, despite the death of claimant before execution of written compromise and settlement agreement.
- Hobson v. Mid-Century Ins. Co., 19 P 3d. 1241, 199 Ariz. 525 (App 2001). ARS 23-1023© doesn’t compel workers’ compensation lienholder to pay equitable portion of attorney’s fees and costs incurred by claimant in third-party tort litigation.
- Special Fund Division v. Industrial Commission of Arizona, 897 P.2d 643, 182 Ariz. 341 (App. 1994). Apportionment appropriate despite failure to provide notice to Special Fund.
- Word v. Industrial Commission of Arizona, 857 P2.d 1328, 175 Ariz. 474 (App. 1993). Judge cannot modify caption to add party who has not received notice or opportunity to be heard.
- State Compensation Fund of Arizona, dba SCF Arizona v Hon. Dean M. Fink/Juan Manuel Lopez Verduzco, 233 P .3d 1190 (App. 2010). Allowed workers’ compensation carrier to intervene under Rule 24, ARCAP in tort action to protect the carrier’s interests. Applied A.R.S 23- 1023© retroactively as it was a procedural right.
- Special Fund Division vs. Industrial Commission/ Richard Bombara/JAR Inc., dba Jet Action Rental, 250 P.3d 564 (App. 2010). Discussion of election of remedies under ARS 23-1024 (B) the interplay between tort filing and workers’ compensation claim.
Professional associations and memberships
- Workers’ compensation advisor to Arizona Professional Hockey Players (Coyotes, Roadrunners), 2015 – Present
- Arizona Panel Counsel Member, National Hockey League Players Association (NHLPA), 2016 – Present
- Arizona Panel Counsel Member, Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), 2017 – Present
- Nominating Committee Member, The College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers, 2015 – 2017
- Chair, Nominating Committee, The College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers, 2018 – Present
- Member, American Bar Association, Section of Labor & Employment Law, Workers’ Compensation Committee, 2015 – Present
- Member, Sports Lawyer Association, 2017 – Present
- Panel Counsel Member, Major League Baseball Players Association (Arizona Diamondbacks), 2016 – Present
- Member, The Federalist Society
- Member, University of Toledo Law Alumni Association
- Arizona Board of Legal Specialization (litigated over 11,000 Arizona Industrial Commission Hearings as of 2017), 1985 – Present
Past employment positions
- Partner, Crampton, Woods, Broening & Oberg, P.C. (Phoenix, Arizona). Personal injury insurance law and workers’ compensation administrative law practice, including representation of municipal and governmental entities, 1979 – 1983
- Partner, Conklin & Adler (Phoenix, Arizona – Chicago-based, multi-state national law firm). Personal injury, insurance law and workers’ compensation, aviation law, and general civil litigation, 1984 – 1985
- Partner, Wisniewski & Fendon, P.C. (Phoenix Arizona). Personal injury, insurance law and workers’ compensation; general civil litigation, 1985 – 1992
Podcast
The attorney’s role in workers’ compensation
Bob Wisniewski talks about his experience as a workers’ compensation attorney and explains why an injured worker would seek out legal representation for a claim.
Law Offices of Robert E. Wisniewski firm overview
PTSD lawyer for first responders in the line of duty
First responders, including police officers, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), paramedics, firefighters and state troopers, can suffer from PTSD as a result of experiencing or witnessing traumatic events in the line of duty. In as many as 90% of PTSD cases, the patient experiences another mental or behavioral disorder such as depression, anxiety, alcohol abuse, personality disorder, social anxiety disorder or increased risk of suicide.
If you’ve been injured in the line of duty, personally experienced, witnessed or been confronted with a traumatic event in the workplace resulting in PTSD, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.
Contact attorney Robert E. Wisniewski
Certified Workers’ Compensation Specialist of the Arizona State Bar
Free consultation
Can you receive workers’ compensation for PTSD?
