Jill Bollwerk completed her undergraduate studies in December, 1987 and graduated in the top 5% of her class with a B.A. in Radio-Television from Southern Illinois University - Carbondale in 1988. She earned her law degree from St. Louis University School of Law in 1991.
Jill is admitted to practice before all Missouri and Illinois state courts, the Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern and Western Districts, the United States District Courts for the Eastern District of Missouri and the Southern District of Illinois, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
Ms. Bollwerk began her law career representing injured individuals in automobile and premises liability litigation, workers' compensation matters and in Social Security Disability appeals for two prominent St. Louis plaintiff's firms. She also spent a brief period of time working as a trial attorney for a major insurance company. After 10 years of practice, she started her own firm, "Jill S. Bollwerk, LLC," wherein she dedicated her career to representing injured individuals. In 2009, Phil Tatlow joined the firm and it evolved to "Bollwerk & Tatlow, LLC."
Jill has been trying cases before various tribunals for the last 33 years. She has handled countless jury trials, bench trials, workers' compensation hearings, and Social Security hearings, and she has briefed and argued many appeals before both state and federal courts as well as before the Missouri Labor & Industrial Relations Commission.
In recent years, Jill has received training in alternative dispute resolution and is a qualified mediator for several circuit courts and for the US. District Court of the Eastern District of Missouri. She enjoys using her years of experience to help other attorneys evaluate and resolve their cases. She is on the panel of Lexitas ADR.
Her legal memberships include the Missouri Bar, the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys (co-chair, Emergency Response Team), The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, the Illinois State Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, the Workers' Injury Law & Advocacy Group (Top Injured Workers' Attorneys program), the Lawyers Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, and the Academy of Trucking Accident Attorneys. Jill has volunteered her time with various programs sponsored by The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis and MATA. Jill has received an AV Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell law directory, which is the highest given by that organization. She is also a member of SuperLawyers, and in 2023, she was named to the presigious list of the Top 50 Women in Missouri and Kansas.
Jill makes it her top priority to keep her clients well-informed. She knows how difficult the legal process can be for her clients, so she strives to return phone calls and emails as quickly as possible. Jill also believes that the key to success is working harder than her opponent. She absolutely loves trying cases to juries. She thinks our system of civil justice is the best in the world, and she is honored to present her clients' cases to a jury of their peers.
A lifelong resident of St. Louis, Ms. Bollwerk resides with her husband in South St. Louis County. She has two grown children of whom she is very proud, but she sure misses her years serving as scout leader and coach for several of her children's sports teams. Fortunately, in 2021, Jill became a grandma and loves spoiling her two precious little granddaughters. Jill enjoys swimming, biking, hiking, theatre, dancing and great music.
- Areas of Practice:
- 35% Workers' Compensation Law
- 40% Motor Vehicle Accident (Trucking, car and motorcycle)-- Plaintiff
- 10% Premises Liability
- 10% Insurance policy disputes
- 5% Alternative Dispute Resolution (Certified Mediator)
- Bar Admissions:
- Missouri, 1991
- Illinois, 1993
- U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 1991
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Missouri, 1991
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Illinois, 1993
- Education:
- Saint Louis University School of Law, St Louis, Missouri, 1991
J.D.
- Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, USA, 1988 (studies completed December, 1987)
B.A.
Major: Communications / Radio-Television
- Published Works and Speaking Engagements:
- "Litigating the Claim" The First Step and "The Hearing" - Workers' Compensation Hearings in Missouri, NBI, Inc., 2000
- "Litigating the Claim" The First Step and "The Hearing" - Workers' Compensation Hearings in Missouri, National Business Institute, Inc., 2001
- 3 Chapters of "How to Start Your Own Solo Practice", National Business Institute, Inc., 2007
- "Subrogation Issues and Procedures", National Business Institute, Inc., 2012
- "Selecting the Right Jury for Your Case," National Business Institute, Inc. 2012
- "Selected Issues in Workers' Compensation Law," Advanced Workers' Compensation, National Business Institute, Inc., 2013
- "Case Intake and Investigation" and "Evidence and Discovery" (two chapters), The Paralegal's Guide to Auto Injury Litigation, Institute for Paralegal Studies, 2015
- "Understanding and Resolving Issues Regarding ERISA, Medicare, Medicaid, Disability Benefits and Unpaid Medical Bills." Presented at the Missouri Department of Labor Annual Workers' Compensation Conference, 2016
- "Investigating the Liens" and "Strategies to Eliminate/Reduce Liens," (two chapters), Eliminating/Minimizing Liens in Personal Inury Settlements, National Business Institute, Inc., 2018
- "I Need an IME--Now What? The Employee's Perspective," Presented at the Missouri Bar Annual Workers' Compensation Institute, 2019
- Presented a mock voir dire at the Annual Trial Master Seminar, sponsored by The Lawyers Association of St. Louis, 2019
- "Workers' Comp for Attorneys Who Don't 'Do' Workers' Comp," Presented at the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys Annual Convention, 2021
- Professional Associations and Memberships:
- Missouri Bar Association
- Member
- Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
- Member
- Illinois State Bar Association
- Member
- Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys
- Member (Co-chair, Emergency Response Team)
- American Association for Justice
- Member
- Workers' Injury Law & Advocacy Group
- Member, Top Injured Workers' Attorneys program
- Academy of Trucking Accident Attorneys
- Member
- Reported Cases:
- Kausler v. Campey, 989 F. 2d 296 (8th Cir. 1992)
- Reeb v. Wal-Mart Stores, 902 F.Supp. 185 (U.S. Dist. Ct. ED Mo. 1995)
- Armstead v. Tech Electronics, 982 S.W.2d 707 (Mo. App. 1998)
- Smith v. Semo Tank & Supply, 99 S.W.3d 11 (Mo.App. 2002)
- Roesler v. Gordman's, Inc. #81, 215 S.W.3d 742 (Mo. App. 2007)
- Grobe v. Vantage Credit Union, 679 F. Supp.2d 1020 (U.S. Dist. Ct. ED Mo. 2010)
- Kinnikin v. Second Injury Fund, 352 S.W.2d 368 (Mo.App. 2011)
- Knorr v. Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., 2013 US Dist. Lexis 5158 (2013)
- Ennis v. Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., 2013 US Dist. Lexis 7118 (2013)
- Behlman v. Century Sur. Co., 794 F.3d 960 (8th Cir. 2015)