Benjamin J. Trichilo
CounselBen Trichilo is an accomplished personal injury and workersโ compensation attorney with a wealth of experience in trial as well as appellate litigation. Prior representation of insurers has provided valuable understanding of both sides of the legal spectrum. Benโs areas of litigation practice include:
Personal injuries
- Automobile and trucking accidents
- Brain and closed head injuries
- Sports injuries
- Premises liability and slip and fall
- Sexual assaults
- Bicycle accidents
- Professional negligence
Workerโs compensation
- On the job injuries and third-party claims
- Neck, back, knee, hip, and shoulder disability claims
- Brain and closed head injuries
- Occupational diseases including Covid
- Injuries to law enforcement and teachers
Defense Base Act
- On the job injuries or occupational; occurring while employed by DOD Contractor
Case Results – Personal Injury
- Premises Liability: $425,000
- Premises liability: $185,000
- Premises liability: $2,400,000
- Defective Product: $750,000.00 plus $225,000 for workersโ compensation claim
- Defective Product: $195,500
- Automobile accident: $250,000 plus $238,000 for workersโ compensation claim
- Automobile accident: $150,000 plus $152,000 for workersโ compensation claim
- Dog bite: $355,000 plus $145,000 for workersโ compensation claim
- Dog bite: $250,000
- Bicycle accident: $170,000
- Trucking accident $3,800,000
Case Results – Workers’ Compensation
- Automobile injury: $638,000 plus $449,000 for future medical benefits
- Snowboarding accident: $110,000
- Closed head injury: $135,000
- Defense Base Act injury: $250,000
- Knee injury: $200,000
- Knee injury: $135,000 plus lifetime medical benefits for injury
- Covid Death Claim: $395,000
- Covid Death Claim: $1,064 per week plus cost-of-living benefits for 500 weeks
Obtaining great results requires knowledge, skill, and teamwork. Ben will handle your claim, and will be there to address your questions and concerns. He believes that each case must be handled as if it were his own.
Honors
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- William E. Wenger Professionalism Award presented by Litigation Council of America (2023)
- Americaโs Top 100 Civil Litigators
- The Best Lawyers in America
- โVirginia Super Lawyersยฎโ, inclusion in The Washington D.C. Areaโs Best Lawyers
- Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
- Barrister, Order of Centurions (Litigation Counsel of America)
- Board Member, Diversity Law Institute (Litigation Counsel of America)
- AVยฎย Preeminentโข Peer Review Rated, the highest rating from Martindale-Hubbellยฎ
- โTop Lawyersโ in the Washington metropolitan area byย Washingtonianย Magazine
- Virginia Workersโ Compensation Inns of Court
- Master of the Bench, American Inns of Court
- Virginiaโs Legal Elite
Activities
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- Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
- Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
- Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys (Director 1993-97)
- Defense Research Institute
- Northern Virginia Defense Attorneys (President 1984-85)
- Virginia State Bar; Virginia and Fairfax Bar Associations
- Neutral Case Evaluator, Fairfax Circuit Court (1993 to present)
- Board Member, Diversity Law Institute
- Board Member, Brain Injury Services (2018 to 2022)
Presentations
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- โAs Judges See It: Top Mistakes Attorneys Make in Civil Litigation,โ moderated panel consisting of Hon. Lisa M. Baird, Prince William County JDR Court; Hon. Richard B. Potter, Prince William Circuit Court (Ret.); Hon. Lon E. Farris, Chief Judge, Prince William Circuit Court (Ret.); Hon. Douglas L. Fleming, Jr., Loudoun County Circuit Court; Hon. Lorraine Nordlund, Fairfax County Circuit Court (Ret.); Hon. Janine M. Saxe, Fairfax County JDR Court; Hon. John M. Tran, Fairfax County Circuit Court. National Business Institute (October 12, 2017)
- โTrends and Top Mistakes Attorneys Make.โ National Business Institute (September 29, 2016).
- “A Litigation Paralegal’s Guide to Case Management.” National Business Institute (May 19, 2015).
- โAs Judges See It: Top Mistakes Attorneys Make in Civil Litigation,โ moderated panel consisting of Hon. Michael F. Devine, Fairfax County Circuit Court; Hon. Lon E. Farris, Prince William County Circuit Court; Hon. Daniel S. Fiore, II, Arlington County Circuit Court; and Hon. William T. Newman, Jr., Arlington County Circuit Court.ย National Business Instituteย (October 11, 2013).
- โLitigating the Uninsured & Underinsured Motorist Claim.โย ย National Business Instituteย (August 28, 2013).
- โAdvanced Workersโ Compensation,โ participated as a speaker on a panel addressing litigation techniques; Medicare Secondary Payor Updates; disability in causal relationship issues; utilization of the second injury fund; and ethical obligations.ย National Business Instituteย (February 06, 2013).
- โWhat Civil Court Judges Want You to Know,โ moderated panel consisting of Hon. William T. Newman, Jr., Arlington Circuit Court; Hon. Lon E. Farris, Prince William County Circuit Court; Hon. Jonathan C. Thacher, Fairfax County Circuit Court; and Jan L. Brodie, Fairfax County Circuit Court. National Business Instituteย (October 19, 2012).
- โHandling the Workersโ Compensation Case from Start to Finish.โ ย National Business Instituteย (October 7, 2010)
- โ10 Things Every Attorney Needs to Know About Workersโ Compensation.โย VADA Annual Seminarย (October 29, 2009)
- โWitness Preparation: Whatโs Essential, Whatโs Effective, Whatโs Ethical.โ ย Virginia CLEย (August 12, 2009)
- โResults-Oriented Hearing Strategies.โย National Business Instituteย (October 15, 2008)
- โThe Essentials of Law Office Management.โย National Business Instituteย (October 12, 2007)
- โWorkersโ Compensation Update.โย Lorman Education Servicesย (December 1, 2006)
- โWorkersโ Compensation Case Preparation Techniques.โย National Business Instituteย (August 15, 2006)
- โInsurance Policy Coverage.โ ย VADA Spring Seminarย (May 13, 2004).
- โAppellate Practice Seminar.โย Fairfax Bar Associationย (April 24, 2003).
- โFundamentals of Workersโ Compensation.โ Council on Education in Management (December 18, 2002).
- โTimely Issues in Virginia Workersโ Compensationย Practice.โย Virginia Continuing Legal Education Committeeย (May 16, 2002).
- โEthics Seminar.โย Virginia State Bar (May 18, 2000).
- โCurrent Developments in Workersโ Compensation.โย Council on Education in Managementย (December 7, 1998).
- โCase Handling Strategies.โ ย Council on Education in Managementย (July 25, 1998).
Publications
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- UM Insurers Retain Right to Sell You a Policy and Then Negotiate in Bad Faith, 2021.
- โPractice Pointer: Exclusion of Testimony of Attending Physician,โย The Journal of the Virginiaย Trial Lawyers Association, Fall/Winter 2005/2006.
- โWorkersโ Compensation Update: Expansion of the Estoppel Doctrine Where Voluntary Payments Are Madeย by the Insurerโ,ย The Journal of Civil Litigation, Volume VII, No.1 (1995).
- โThe Applicability of the Workersโ Compensation Bar afterย Cinnamon v. IBM,โย The Journal of Civil Litigation, Volume II, No.3 (1990).
- โSubdivision Exactions: Virginia Constitutional Restrictionsโ,ย University of Richmond Law Review, Fall 1976.
Notable Cases
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Supreme Court of Virginia
- Eberhart v. Fairfax County, 283 Va. 190, 721 S.E. 2d 524 (2012).
- Mulford v. Walnut Hill Farm Group, LLC, 282 Va. 98, 712 S.E. 2d 468 (2011).
- Ford Motor Co. v. Benitez, 273 Va. 242, 639 S.E.2d 203 (2007).
- GEICO v. Moore, 266 Va. 155, 580 S.E.2d 823 (2003).
- Pro Football, Inc. v. Uhlenhake, 265 Va. 155, 580 S.E. 2d 288 (2003).
- Amoco Foam Products v. Johnson, 257 Va. 29, 510 S.E.2d 443 (1999).
- Prince William County Serv. Auth. v. Harper, 256 Va. 277, 504 S.E.2d 616 (1998).
- Falls Church Construction Co. v. Laidler, 254 Va. 474, 493 S.E.2d 521 (1997).
- Craddock Movingย &ย Storage Co. v. Settles, 247 Va. 165, 440 S.E.2d 613 (1994).
- Doe v. Dewhirst, 240 Va. 266, 396 S.E.2d 840 (1990).
- Morris v. Morris, 238 Va. 578, 385 S.E.2d 858 (1989).
- Cinnamon v. IBM, 238 Va. 471, 384 S.E.2d 618 (1989).
- Southwood Builders, Inc. v. Peerless Ins. Co., 235 Va. 164, 366 S.E.2d 104 (1988).
- Klingbeil Management Group Co. v. Vito, 233 Va. 445, 357 S.E.2d 200 (1987).
- Williamson v. Old Brogue Inc., 232 Va. 350, 350 S.E.2d 621 (1986).
- Gudnason v. Life Ins. Co., 231 Va. 197, 343 S.E.2d 54 (1986).
- Daniel Constr. Co. v. Baker, 229 Va. 453, 331 S.E.2d 396 (1985).
- WMATA v. Harrison, 228 Va. 598, 324 S.E.2d 654 (1985).
- John Driggs Co. v. Somers, 228 Va. 729, 324 S.E.2d 694 (1985).
- Sargent Electric Co. v. Woodall, 228 Va. 419, 323 S.E.2d 102 (1984).
- Transportation, Inc. v. Falls Church, 219 Va. 1004, 254 S.E.2d 62 (1979).
Virginia Court of Appeals
- Best v. Farr, 2023 Va. App. LEXIS 245, Record Nos. 0949-22-9, 0952-22-4 (April 18, 2023).
- Huryan v. Volzer, 2022 Va. App. LEXIS 494, Record No. 0231-22-4 (October 2, 2022).
- Garcia v. Fairfax County Public Schools, 2022 V. App. LEXIS 182, Record No. 1248-21-4 (May 24, 2022).
- Johnston v. ECHL Personnel Management, 20 Va. App. LEXIS 240, Record No. 0327-20-04 (October 6, 2020); Petition for Appeal dismissed, Record No. 201318 (April 9, 2021).
- Hamilton v. Pro Football, Inc., Record No. 1091-18-4 (February 12, 2019).
- Jones v. Pro Football, Inc., Record No. 1219-18-4 (February 12, 2019).
- Carlson Holdings, Inc. et al v. Tibebu, Record No. 1398-17-4 (December 12, 2017) 2017 Va. App. LEXIS 312.
- Blakey v. University of Virginia Health System, Record No. 0837-14-4 (February 18, 2015); 2015 Va. App. LEXIS 52.
- Seminario v. Fairfax County, Record No. 0362-14-4 (December 9, 2014); 2014 Va. App. LEXIS 397.
- United Airlines, Inc. v. Smolak, Record No. 0556-13-4 (November 19, 2013); 2013 Va. App. LEXIS 337.
- Vasquez v. Randstad North America, Record No. 2284-12-4 (July 2, 2013); 2013 Va. App. LEXIS 193.
- Chemical Producers and Distributors Association, Inc. v. Perry, Record No. 1716-08-4; (June 9, 2009); 2009 Va. App. LEXIS 259.
- The Estate of Alejandro Ho v. Information Technology Solutions, Record No. 2742-05-4; (October 17, 2006); 2006 Va. App. LEXIS 460.
- Peck v. R. G. Mgmt. Services, Record No. 1401-06-4 (October 10, 2006), 2006 Va. App. LEXIS 448.
- King George Custom Homes, Inc. v. Hernandez, Record No. 3135-05-4 (July 05, 2006), 2006 Va. App. LEXIS 299.
- Genesys Conferencing, Inc. v. Harper, Record No. 1307-05-04 (November 1, 2005); 2005 Va. App. LEXIS 289.
- Allmond v. Homeplaceย &ย Royal Ins. Co., Record No. 0441-04-4 (June 22, 2004); 2004 Va. App. LEXIS 289.
- Henderson v. H.F. Copies, Inc., Record No. 3177-03-04 (April 6, 2004); 2004 Va. App. LEXIS 159.
- MWAA v. Lusby, 41 Va. App. 300, 585 S.E.2d 318 (2003).
- MWAA v. Bispo, Record No. 0905-03-4 (August 19, 2003); 2003 Va. App. LEXIS 442.
- MWAA v. Bailey, Record No. 2790-01-4 (August 13, 2002); 2002 Va. App. LEXIS 463.
- Pro Football, Inc. v. Uhlenhake, 37 Va. App. 407, 558 S.E.2d 571 (2002).
- William Hazel Cos. v. Creswell, Record No. 2477-99-2 (May23, 2000); 2000 Va. App. LEXIS 395.
- Manes v. TCB Constr., Inc., Record No. 0019-99-3 (June 22, 1999); 1999 Va. App. LEXIS 374.
- Patrick v. Tenneco Packaging, Record No. 0201-99-3 (June 15, 1999); 1999 Va. App. LEXIS 354.
- White v. C.J. Coakley Co., Record No. 2346-98-2 (May 4, 1999); 1999 Va. App. LEXIS 261.
- Hunan Imperial Restaurant v. Lam, Record No. 1990-98-4 (January 26, 1999); 1999 Va. App. LEXIS 46.
- Casper v. Commercial Interior Constr., Record No. 3012-97-2 (May 12, 1998); 1998 Va. App. LEXIS 285.
- Carpet Palace v. Salehi, 26 Va. App. 357,494 S.E.2d 870 (1998).
- Amoco Foam Products v. Johnson, Record No. 00324-97-4 (December 30, 1997); 1997 Va. App. LEXIS 765.
- ARC Electric v. Godwin, Record No. 2037-97-2 (December 23, 1997); 1997 Va. App. LEXIS 780.
- LMI Ins. Co. v. Foley, Record No. 2670-96-4 (July 29, 1997); 1997 Va. App. LEXIS 503.
- Real v. Tower Elec. Co., Record No. 2859-96-4 (July 29, 1997); 1997 Va. App. LEXIS 504.
- Alexandria Kitchenย &ย Bath v. Hare, Record No. 2259-96-3 (July 29, 1997); 1997 Va. App. LEXIS 512.
- Prince William County Service Authority v. Harper, 25 Va. App. 166, 487 S.E.2d 246 (1997).
- Electrodyne Inc. v. Harrison, Record No. 2374-96-4 (February 18, 1997); 1997 Va. App. LEXIS 377.
- Vulcan Materials Co. v. Crawford, Record No. 1886-96-2 (February 18, 1997); 1997 Va. App. LEXIS 108.
- Kennyโs Constr. v. Richards, Record No. 1627-96-3 (December 17, 1996); 1996 Va. App. LEXIS 763.
- Falls Church Constr. Co. v. Laidler, Record No. 1628-96-3 (December 3, 1996); 1996 Va. App. LEXIS 761.
- Manes v. TCB Constr., Record No. 0862-96-2 (September 24, 1996); 1996 Va. App. LEXIS 610.
- Canova Electric Constr. v. LMI Ins. Co., 22 Va. App. 432, 470 S.E.2d 591 (1996).
- Wiggins v. Fairfax Park Ltd. Partnership, 22 Va. App. 432, 470 S.E.2d 591 (1996).
- VDO Yazaki Co. v. Snyder, 21 Va. App. 605, 466 S.E.2d 750 (1996).
- Arlington Renaissance Hotel v. Ramirez, Record No. 0176-95-4 (October 24, 1995); 1995 Va. App. LEXIS 778.
- Blackwell v. April Const. Co., Record No. 1842-94-4 (June 06, 1995); 1995 Va. App. LEXIS 500.
- Thomas v. R&T Const. Co., Record No. 1515-94-4 (May 02, 1995); 1995 Va. App. LEXIS 402.
- Novacon v. Sturdivant, Record No. 1448-94-4 (March 21, 1995); 1995 Va. App. LEXIS 266.
- Centreville Automobile v. Vanover, Record No. 1439-94-4 (February 28, 1995); 1995 Va. App. LEXIS 199.
- Tucker v. WMATA, Record No. 0937-94-4 (February 21, 1995); 1995 Va. App. LEXIS 188.
- Drywall Systems v. Dykes, Record No. 0689-94-4 (September 06, 1994); 1994 Va. App. LEXIS 576.
- Southland Corp. v. Senter, Record No. 0697-93-4 (February 08, 1994); 1994 Va. App. LEXIS 58.
- East Coast Associates, Inc. v. Maddox, Record No. 2195-92-4 (July 20, 1993); 1993 Va. App. LEXIS 276.
- Craddock Moving &Storage Co. v. Settles, 16 Va. App. 1, 427 S.E.2d 428 (1993).
- Specialty Auto Body v. Cook, 14 Va. App. 327, 416 S.E.2d 233 (1992).
- Allegheny Airlines, Inc. v. Merrillat, 14 Va. App. 341, 416 S.E.2d 35 (1992).
- Metropolitan Cleaning Corp. v. Crawley, 14 Va. App. 261, 416 S.E.2d 35 (1992).
- WMATA v. Pender, 14 Va. App. 100, 415 S.E.2d 239 (1992).
- Metropolitan Cleaning Corp., Inc. v. Crawley, 12 Va. App. 1167, 408 S.E.2d 570 (1991).
- Bartholow Drywall Co. v. Hill, 12 Va. App. 790, 407 S.E.2d 1 (1991).
- Trammel Crow Co. v. Redmond, 12 Va. App. 610, 405 S.E.2d 632 (1991).
- Richard E. Brown v. Caporaletti, 12 Va. App. 242, 402 S.E.2d 709 (1991).
- Seneca Falls Greenhouseย &ย Nursery v. Layton, 9 Va. App. 482, 389 S.E.2d 184 (1990).
- First Federal Savingย &ย Loan Assoc. v. Gryder, 9 Va. App. 60, 383 S.E.2d 755 (1989).
- National Linen Service v. McGuinn, 8 Va. App. 267, 380 S.E.2d 31 (1989).
- Judge v. Whitmer, 6 Va. App. 152, 366 S.E.2d 713 (1988).
- Barnett v. D.L. Bromwell, Inc., 6 Va. App. 30, 366 S.E.2d 271 (1988).
- National Linen Service v. McGuinn, 5 Va. App. 265, 362 S.E.2d 187 (1987).
- Barnett v. D.L. Bromwell, Inc., 4 Va. App. 552, 358 S.E.2d 767 (1987).
- Southwest Architectural Products, Inc. v. Smith, 4 Va. App. 474, 358 S.E.2d 745 (1987).
- National Linen Service v. McGuinn, 3 Va. App. 73, 348 S.E.2d 42 (1986).
- Audobon Tree Service v. Childress, 2 Va. App. 35, 341 S.E.2d 211 (1986).
- Commonwealth Dept. of Highways v. Williams, 1 Va. App. 281, 338 S.E.2d 660 (1986).
- Southland Corp. v. Parson, 1 Va. App. 281, 338 S.E.2d 162 (1985).
- WMATA v. Medley, 1 Va. App. 113, 335 S.E.2d 845 (1985).
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- Ward v. Knight, 81 Fed Appx. 460 (2003).
- Webb v. Blackieโs House of Beef, Inc., 811 F.2d 840 (1987).
- Tony Guiffre Distributing Co. v. WMATA, 740 F. 2d 295 (1984)
United States District Court for the Eastern Districtย of Virginia
- Eberhardt v. Fairfax County Employeesโ Ret. Sys. Bd. of Trs.,2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 46299 (March 30, 2012).
- Carter v. Arlington Public School Systems, 82 F. Supp. 2d 561 (2000).
- Estate of Krasnow v. Texaco, Inc., 773 F. Supp. 806 (1991).
- Webb v. Regua Ltd. Partnership, 624 F. Supp. 471 (1985).
- Richardson v. Econo-Travel Motor Hotel Corp., 553 F. Supp. 320 (1982).
District of Columbia Court of Appeals
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- Marboah v. Ackerman, 877 A.2d 1053 (2005)
Virginia Circuit Court
- Butler v. N.E.W. Customer Servs. Cos., Inc., 74 Va. Cir. 59, 2007 Va. Cir. LEXIS 73, April 24, 2007.
- Benko v. Mid-Atlantic Sports Ventures, Inc., Law No. 20986, Circuit Court of Loudoun County; 2000 Va. Cir. LEXIS 337 (July 11, 2000).
- 243 Indus. Assocs., LP v. Consumer Fuel Co., 35 Va. Cir. 322, 1994 Va. Cir. LEXIS 749 Spotsylvania Circuit Court (December 20, 1994).
- Hooper v. DPC Corp., Law No. 11842 Circuit Court of Fairfax County; 1993 Va. Cir. LEXIS 850 (July 06, 1993).
Education
- 1971 B.S., cum laude, Georgetown University Business School
- 1974 J.D., University of Virginia School of Law
- 1974-1976 Law Clerk for the Honorable Richard H. Poff, Supreme Court of Virginia
Practice Areas
Admissions
- Virginia
- District of Columbia
- United States Supreme Court
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- United States District Court for the District of Columbia
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia