Bottom left: Softball team Bye Week’s championship
win. Bottom right: Chirck’s turn taking home the trophy
Charles Holden “Chick” Leo has been licensed to practice law since May 21, 1992. In May of this year, he will mark 30 years of practice in workers’ compensation law, 25-plus of those years in his own firm, Charles H. Leo PA, which he established on January 1, 1997. Asked about his greatest accomplishments as a workers’ compensation attorney, Mr. Leo related a trial victory in which he won compensability for a homeless man of his leg amputation after a nail puncture wound.
The workers’ compensation insurance denied antibiotics, which led to the amputation. Mr. Leo also takes pride in his role in the appellate case Cynthia Richardson v. Aramark, the second case consolidated behind Castellanos v. Next Door Co., 192 S. 3d 431 (Fla. 2016).
“We were allowed to brief my record, which included the reported fee disparities recorded by DOAH that showed the ‘Keeto effect,’ the data cited in Castellanos that led to the Florida Supreme Court’s holding that if a claimant shows that his attorney would receive an unreasonable fee, then the claimant’s attorney would be entitled to a fee ‘that deviates from the fee schedule,’” Mr. Leo says.
Here Mr. Leo shares tips for a well-balanced work life that he has learned over his 30 years of practicing workers’ compensation law.
Q: What do you do to start off your workday on a fresh note?
A: Morning meditation while hanging upside down on my inversion table (teeter) and then up to 45 minutes of treadmill work and strength training.
Q: What is your philosophy on a healthy workday?
A: When I’m at work, I stay focused and work efficiently. I don’t take work home in the evening, and I turn off my work phone. When I’m at home, I want to be present for my family.
Q: Do you enjoy owning your own firm?
A: Yes, working long hours is easier when working for yourself, and you control your own time. If a job takes too much time from your family, then you should change jobs. I don’t have to attend meetings that take away from the real purpose of my job. I’m a fan of banning afterhours emails, phone calls, and Zoom meetings.
Q: Are you active with sports or other activities outside of work?
A: Yes, I play softball and golf with my friends and travel a lot with family.
Q: Do you like any other activities that are a good source of exercise?
A: Yes, I like to add in surfing and bike riding on the weekends when I have the time.
This Q&A was published on the 440 Report: Click here to read
Construction is one of the most perilous careers in the U.S. Even with comprehensive safety procedures in place, thousands of construction workers are critically injured each year on the job. Some accidents could take months or even years to recover.