Steve Wanko, a native of New Orleans, began his legal career defending insurance companies and large businesses.
In 2004, he founded the Wanko Law Firm, LLC. From day one, his firm concentrated on providing representation to Louisiana workers’ compensation claimants.
Mr. Wanko is also a skilled advocate who successfully tried over 30 judge and jury trials and handled complex appeals.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from LSU, an MBA from University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas and graduated from Tulane Law School.
He has appeared in front of all the Federal, District and Appellate Courts in Louisiana, including the Louisiana Supreme Court.
Mr. Wanko is the current president of the Louisiana Workers’ Advocates, a member of Workers’ Injury Law & Advocacy Group, a national organization of workers’ compensation attorneys, and a member of Louisiana Association of Justice.
Johnson v. Ace Am. Ins. Co., (La. App. 4 Cir., 2015)
Malancon v. Ace Transp., LLC (La. App. 1 Cir., 2014)
Paul v. Jefferson Parish Pub. Sch. Sys. (La. App. 5 Cir., 2013)
Dupre v. Surbo Tubular Servs., Inc., 113 So.3d 1090 (La. App., 2013)
Nitcher v. Northshore Reg’l Med. Ctr., 92 So.3d 1001 (La. App., 2012)
Redmann v. Bridgefield Cas. Ins. Co. , 88 So.3d 1087
(La. App., 2012) Flach v. Diebold, Inc., 99 So.3d 688 (La. App., 2012)
Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. v. Dir. Office of Worker’s Comp. Programs, 604 F.3d 864 (5th. Cir., 2010)
Quick v. Terrebonne Gen. Med. Ctr., 35 So.3d 287 (La. App. 1 Cir., 2010)
Hickerson v. Shaw Services, LLC, 989 So.2d 766 (La. App., 2008)
Marquez v. Jack Ussery Const., 964 So.2d 1045 (La. App., 2007)
Parr v. U.S. Exp. Enterprises, Inc., 946 So.2d 178 (La. App., 2006)
Taylor v. Tommie’s Gaming, 902 So.2d 380 (La., 2005)
Shaffer v. Brand Scaffold Builders, Inc., No. 2003 CA 0288 (La. App. 12/31/2003), 868 So.2d 149 (La. App., 2003)
Hall v. J.E. Merit Constructors, Inc., 2002 CA 2648 (La. App. 11/7/2003), 861 So.2d 224 (La. App., 2003)
Western Sizzlin Steakhouse v. McDuffie., 844 So.2d 355 (La. App., 2003)
Having a pre-existing medical condition does not automatically prevent you from receiving Louisiana workers' compensation benefits after a workplace injury. An employee may already have back problems, arthritis, a prior knee injury, or another medical condition when an accident at work makes that condition significantly worse. Louisiana courts have long recognized that a work-related accident […]
After a workplace accident, most employees expect their employer to document the injury and begin the workers' compensation process. But what happens when a supervisor refuses to prepare an accident report, says the injury does not need to be reported, or simply does nothing? An employer's refusal to cooperate does not necessarily eliminate your right […]
Getting hurt at work is difficult enough without your employer challenging your version of what happened. Unfortunately, Louisiana workers sometimes report an injury only to hear that their employer disputes the accident, questions whether it happened at work, or claims that the employee’s medical condition is unrelated to the job. An employer refuting your claim […]
