Workers’ Compensation Settlement for Former Eagles Player Chris Maragos
Attorney Mark R. Schmidt represented Philadelphia Eagles player Chris Maragos in his workers’ compensation claim against the team. While many stories have focused on later personal injury litigation, far fewer people know that the matter began with a Pennsylvania workers’ compensation claim arising directly from a work-related injury. Public discussion of the workers’ compensation issues was limited at the time due to a non-disclosure agreement while additional lawsuits were pending.
Maragos, a Special Teams Captain, suffered a career-ending knee injury on October 12, 2017, during the Eagles’ run to their first Super Bowl championship. The Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act applies to professional athletes in all sports who suffer work-related injuries, subject to specific rules and benefit rates under Pennsylvania workers’ compensation law. These complex claims must be navigated in conjunction with the player’s contract, the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Players’ Union and team owners, and, in some cases, contractual relationships involving the professional sports league itself.
Maragos first consulted with the Chicago-based law firm Meyers & Flowers. Recognizing the need for experienced Pennsylvania workers’ compensation counsel and honoring Maragos’ request for an attorney outside the usual network, the Illinois firm identified Attorney Schmidt as an aggressive advocate for injured workers. Schmidt did not disappoint. He recovered more than $500,000 in settlement of the workers’ compensation claim, along with a period of weekly wage loss benefits and an extended period of medical treatment following the settlement.
Following the knee injury suffered during a game against the Carolina Panthers, Maragos began treatment with team physicians and later with multiple surgeons and medical specialists. Schmidt was provided with a substantial volume of medical records dating back to Maragos’ time with the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers. Review of those records revealed multiple torn ligaments, although only one ligament was repaired during the initial surgical procedure. After surgery, Maragos was instructed to increase activity, which further injured unrepaired ligament damage. By December 2018, new physicians identified a failed procedure and the presence of a fragmented surgical screw.
Despite the severity of the injury and the need for multiple surgeries, the workers’ compensation claim was accepted as involving only a knee “sprain.” That characterization carried significant legal consequences. As a Certified Workers’ Compensation Specialist, Attorney Schmidt filed a petition to secure a full and accurate description of the injuries. During litigation of that petition and while claims against medical providers were being investigated, Schmidt negotiated resolution of the workers’ compensation case. That settlement allowed Maragos and his personal injury counsel to focus their efforts on issues involving negligent medical treatment.
What’s Different About Schmidt, Kirifides, Rassias & Rio
Schmidt, Kirifides, Rassias & Rio was built to handle workers’ compensation cases the right way, from the first report of injury through litigation, settlement, or appeal.
Some large firms devote enormous resources to advertising, but the attorneys whose names appear on the firm rarely handle the case themselves. Clients are passed between departments and staff, with no single lawyer responsible for strategy or able to answer questions with firsthand knowledge of the claim.
At the other end of the spectrum, smaller firms may lack the time, staffing, or financial resources required to properly handle workers’ compensation cases as they progress. Even straightforward claims require careful attention, and disputed or denied claims often require advancing costs for medical records, expert testimony, and litigation expenses. Without the ability to commit those resources, cases can stall or be undervalued.
Schmidt, Kirifides, Rassias & Rio balances experience, resources, and personal involvement. Founded in 1997, the firm has represented injured workers for more than three decades and has successfully handled thousands of workers’ compensation cases across Pennsylvania, including new injury claims, denied claims, medical-only claims, wage loss cases, and settlements. From our office serving Delaware County and the Philadelphia region, the firm represents injured workers throughout the state. Defense counsel, insurance carriers, and Workers’ Compensation Judges know the firm for thorough preparation, consistent strategy, and a relentless commitment to injured workers at every stage of a claim.
If you are looking for a law firm prepared to handle any workers’ compensation claim with the attention and commitment it deserves, contact Schmidt, Kirifides, Rassias & Rio for a free consultation.