Local Business Spotlight on Monast Law Office from Ohio’s local news station, 880 WRFD. Ohio worker’s compensation attorney Jim Monast is interviewed by host Anne Rea about his practice.
Video Transcript
Welcome to Local Business Spotlight. I’m Ann Ray, and my guest today is Jim Monast of Monast Law Office.
Ann: Jim, welcome to the show.
Jim: Thank you very much. I’m grateful to be here.
Ann: I’m anxious to learn more about your law practice. Tell me a little about it.
Jim: My practice is devoted primarily to workers’ compensation matters. I help people who’ve been injured at work and are having difficulty getting payment for medical treatment or compensation while they’re off work.
Ann: How long have you been doing this?
Jim: After law school, I started at the prosecutor’s office doing mediation work. Then, in 1985, I became a staff attorney with the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. After a few years, I went into private practice—first as an associate with a firm in German Village, then in partnership for 23 years. Early last year, we each went into solo practice, so it’s been about 29 years now. Hard to believe, since I still feel 29!
Ann: That’s quite a journey. Workers’ comp seems like a very focused area.
Jim: It is. There aren’t many of us who handle these cases in Columbus, and we all tend to know each other because we cross paths so often. It’s a fascinating practice. I enjoy representing people who truly work hard for a living—police officers, firefighters, truck drivers, nursing assistants, nurses, teachers, teacher’s aides, and many others across Ohio.
I was the first in my family to go to college or law school. My dad worked in sales, and my mom was a cashier and cosmetics assistant at Tremont Pharmacy in Upper Arlington. I’ve done all sorts of jobs myself—janitorial work, truck driving, restaurant work, even driving a forklift—so I can relate to the people I help.
Ann: What sets your firm apart from others in your field?
Jim: There are some excellent attorneys handling workers’ compensation in Columbus. What makes our small practice stand out is our accessibility and the care my staff provides. The team that works with me really makes me look good—they handle so much of the day-to-day contact and truly care about our clients.
Nobody’s having a good day when they have to contact an attorney. Our clients are often worried about paying bills and providing for their families. We listen, we help however we can, and many of our clients have been with us for years. Sometimes they even call just to talk when they’re going through life’s ups and downs. That relationship and trust mean a lot to us.
Ann: That’s wonderful. Can you share a story that gives us a sense of what it’s like to work with you?
Jim: Sure. I recently heard from a client who suffered a serious leg injury at work. Now his wife is battling cancer and diabetes—she’s been in the hospital and even had a leg removed. He called us just because he needed someone to talk to. I can’t solve everything, but being there for people like that matters deeply to me.
In other cases, we’ve helped people secure compensation when they couldn’t get it on their own. Most people don’t want to be off work—they want treatment, recovery, and a chance to return. Workers’ compensation isn’t welfare; it’s an insurance system meant to protect injured workers.
When I first started at the Bureau, I didn’t know much about workers’ comp. My boss told me people often think claimants are lazy or dishonest, but that’s far from true. The vast majority of injured workers simply want to get better and get back to their jobs.
Ann: Tell me about your website.
Jim: The website is OhioCompensationAttorney.com. I set it up after going into solo practice. It includes blog posts, newsletters, and answers to common questions that injured workers often ask. There are links to the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation and the Industrial Commission, which decides disputed claims.
If someone’s claim is questioned or denied, they might have to attend a hearing before the Industrial Commission. The system is designed to be administrative, not courtroom-based, but it can still be confusing. That’s where having guidance really helps. Employers and the Bureau have their own representatives and attorneys, so it’s important for injured workers to have someone in their corner to make sure everything is handled correctly.
Ann: Are there misconceptions about workers’ compensation you’d like to clear up?
Jim: Yes, several. The biggest one is that people on workers’ comp don’t want to work. That’s just not true. Most of my clients want to heal and return to their jobs.
Another misconception is that workers can easily handle claims on their own. Some can, if it’s simple and undisputed—but many cases get complicated quickly.
A third misconception is that long-time employees will automatically be treated well by their employer if they’re hurt. The reality is that the decision to contest a claim often comes from higher up in the company—people who don’t even know the worker personally. Sometimes it’s about controlling costs, not about the individual.
Workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance system, meaning it doesn’t matter who caused the accident. The goal is to cover medical bills, approve treatment, and provide wage replacement while the worker recovers. But when claims are challenged, it can be frustrating, and that’s where we step in to help.
Ann: Jim, thank you so much for joining me today.
Jim: Thank you, Ann. It’s been a pleasure.
Ann: You’ve been listening to Local Business Spotlight. My guest has been Jim Monast of Monast Law Office. You can reach him at 614-334-4649 or visit OhioCompensationAttorney.com to learn more.
For more information about workers’ compensation claims in Ohio, contact Monast Law Office for a free consultation.