Jason Schutte

Jason Schutte is an attorney at Haxel Law who focuses on personal injury, workers’ compensation, and civil litigation matters. He joined the firm in March 2026, bringing a strategic, results-driven approach and a strong commitment to achieving favorable outcomes for his clients. Jason has extensive experience litigating serious and catastrophic injury cases from initial filing through trial and appeal.

Attorney Snapshot

• Attorney: Haxel Law
• Location: Illinois
• Practice Areas: Personal Injury, Workers’ Compensation, Civil Litigation
• Experience: Extensive litigation experience across 52 Illinois counties
• Education: J.D., Southern Illinois University School of Law
• Education: B.A., Western Illinois University
• Bar Admissions: Illinois, Missouri
• Professional Memberships: Illinois State Bar Association, Missouri Bar Association

Practice Areas

• Catastrophic injury cases
• Trucking accidents
• Dog bite claims
• Personal injury litigation
• Workers’ compensation claims
• Civil litigation matters
• Wrongful death cases

Notable Case Experience/Results

• Extensive litigation of catastrophic injury cases involving traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, disfigurement, and wrongful death
• Appellate advocacy in both Illinois and Missouri courts
• Broad courtroom experience across more than half of Illinois counties
• Special interest in complex trucking and animal liability cases

Why Clients Choose Jason Schutte

• 17 years of experience in personal injury and civil litigation
• Extensive experience handling complex and catastrophic injury cases
• Proven ability to litigate cases from inception through appeal
• Strong focus on trucking and dog bite litigation
• Client-centered approach with direct attorney communication
• Strategic and detail-oriented case development
• Dedicated, hardworking background rooted in farming and construction

Bar Admissions

• Illinois – 2008
• Missouri – 2009
• U.S. District Court – Central District of Illinois

Professional Biography

Jason Schutte is a seasoned litigator with a focus on high-stakes personal injury and workers’ compensation matters. Over the course of his career, he has handled complex cases involving catastrophic injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and wrongful death claims. His experience spans trial courts across 52 Illinois counties, as well as appellate courts in both Illinois and Missouri.

Jason has developed particular experience in trucking accident litigation and dog bite cases, where legal and factual complexities require a strategic and detail-driven approach. He is known for guiding cases from initial evaluation through resolution, building strong legal strategies tailored to each client’s unique circumstances.

Raised on a farm in rural Adams County, Illinois, Jason brings a strong work ethic and practical mindset to his legal practice. His early experience working construction to fund his education continues to influence his disciplined and hands-on approach to representing clients.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of cases does Jason Schutte handle?
He focuses on personal injury, workers’ compensation, civil litigation, trucking accidents, and dog bite cases.

Does Jason Schutte handle appellate cases?
Yes. He has argued cases in both Illinois and Missouri appellate courts.

What makes Jason Schutte’s approach unique?
His client-centered approach, direct communication, and experience handling complex catastrophic injury cases set him apart.

Where does Jason Schutte practice?
He practices throughout Illinois and has handled cases in 52 counties across the state.

Memberships

• Illinois State Bar Association
• Missouri Bar Association
• Federal Central District of Illinois

Notable Work

• Importance of Video Evidence; ISBA The Policy Newsletter, May 30, 2023
• A Primer on Illinois Prejudgment Interest: ISBA Insurance Law Newsletter , October 2021. ISBA Tort Law Newsletter, January 2022
• Excluded Medical Billing Expert Provides Roadmap for Attacking Opinions based on Big Data: ISBA General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Newsletter, December 1, 2020. ISBA Health Care Lawyer Newsletter, December 1, 2020. ISBA Trial Briefs Newsletter, November, 2020
• HIPAA Protective Orders and Use of Protected Health Information in Litigation: ISBA Elder Law Newsletter, July 2020. ISBA Health Care Lawyer Newsletter, July 2020
• Proving Fault in Auto Cases, Chapter 10 update: IICLE 2020 Edition
• No Reliance, No liability for Breach of Contract to Remove Snow and Ice: IICLE Flashpoints, January 2019
• Snow and Ice: Natural and Obvious?: ISBA Trial Briefs Newsletter, October 2018
• Vicarious liability bars contribution between principal defendants: ISBA Trial Briefs Newsletter, February 2018
• Stuck Shoe Defeats De Minimis Rule in Trip and Fall Case: IICLE Flashpoints, January 2018
• Appellate Court confirms importance of Dead Man's Act in surviving litigation: ISBA Trial Briefs Newsletter, September 2017
• Informed consent is determined by Prudent Person standard, expert testimony not required: ISBA Trial Briefs Newsletter, December 2016. ISBA Tort Trends Newsletter, September 2017
• Court Resolves Petrillo Issue with Bifurcation of Physician Testimony: IICLE, Flashpoints, November 2016
• 2 Tortfeasors, 1 Accident = 2 Underinsured Motorist Claims with 1 Policy Limit: ISBA Trial Briefs Newsletter, November 2016
• Once Validly Waived, the Implied Warranty of Habitability Cannot be Asserted by Subsequent Purchaser: IICLE, Flashpoints, October, 2016
• Comparative Fault not Trumped by Summary Judgment on Liability: ISBA Trial Briefs Newsletter, August 2016
• 2-622 Certificate of Merit not necessary in simple Medical Battery Claim: ISBA Trial Briefs Newsletter, February 2016
• Theories of Contractor Liability for Jobsite Injuries: ISBA Construction Law Newsletter, February 2016
• Failure to yield yields question of fact: ISBA Trial Briefs Newsletter, January 2016
• Delegation of Responsibilities within Construction Contract found Insufficient to Establish Cause of Action: Associated Builders and Contractors of Illinois Monthly Merit Update, January 2016
• The Affidavit and Success at Summary Judgment: ISBA, Trial Briefs Newsletter, October 2015. Co-Author Natalie Koepke
• Are Business Earnings Relevant to Personal Injury Claims: IICLE Flashpoints, October 16, 2015
• EMTALA: Implications for Independent Physicians: Capson Insurance Blog, September 2015
• Hit and Run Coverage When There is no Hit: Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, August 3, 2015
• Power of Attorney’s Execution of Admission Contract with Arbitration Provision is Binding on Principal’s Common Law and Nursing Home Act Claims: ISBA Elder Law Newsletter, June 2015
• Slips, Falls, and the Natural Accumulation Rule: Illinois Bar Journal, June 2015.
• Self-Made Distraction and Expert Affidavit Insufficient to Circumvent Open and Obvious Rule: IICLE Flashpoints, May, 2015
• Right to Trial De Novo is Inherent to Non-Binding Arbitration of Underinsured Motorist Claims: IICLE Flashpoints, February 2015
• Beyond the One-Bite Rule: Liability for Animal-Caused Injuries. Illinois Bar Journal, Authored by J. Schutte, T. Meyer and W. Waldman, September, 2013
• Traveling Employee Theory of Liability does not Extend to Employer Tort Liability: ISBA Trial Briefs Newsletter, December 2013
• No Strict Liability Under the Animal Control Act: ISBA Animal Law Newsletter and ISBA Trial Briefs Newsletter, August 2013
• It was a gift, not a loan – Prove it!: ISBA Trial Briefs Newsletter, September 2012, Written by Jason G. Schutte with citation assistant Eric Waldman
• Proving Fault in Automobile Accidents: IICLE Practice Handbook; Chapter 10, Across the Centerline, 2011 supplement. Co-authored 2011 supplement to Chapter 10 of the Proving Fault IICLE Handbook analyzing the use of the “act of god” defense in proving fault in automobile accident cases
• The Home Repair and Remodeling Act and how it effects the Contractor: Presented by Jason G. Schutte to the Adams County Home Builders Association at their August 2009 meeting.