Having worked in the insurance claims industry for more than five decades, Daniel M. Junius had seen it all.
Family members recalled how the father of six loved sharing stories around the dinner table about the various investigations he had conducted over the years, from claims involving everything from high-risk auto insurance to product liability to personal injury.
According to family members, one such investigation involved a major Chicago-area department store that after receiving an unusually high number of what was referred to as “slip and fall” complaints from customers, turned to Mr. Junius for help in the investigation.
“The claims always came in after the store had just waxed their floors, so on the surface everything looked legitimate,” said his daughter Jody Suttie. “But it was a case of fraud, and my father was able to prove it. He staked out the store and discovered that there was this small gang of criminals posing as customers. They’d pretend to fall and hurt themselves so that they could turn around and file a claim against the store.”
Mr. Junius, 81, of Western Springs, formerly of Oak Park, the founder of Risk Retention Services Inc. and a nationally known expert in ladder product liability, died of heart failure Tuesday, Dec. 13, in his home.
Mr. Junius was born and raised on the West Side, where he graduated from St. MelCatholic High School in 1942. Soon after, he enlisted in the Army Air Forces and served for nearly four years as a flight instructor on bases in Arizona and Florida in World War II.
After his military discharge, Mr. Junius returned to Chicago and attended Lewis University in Romeoville. Later he worked as a claims adjuster for several auto insurance agencies in Chicago, where family members said he quickly became known for effectiveness in investigating claims for court cases.
In the early 1960s, while working as a claims adjuster, Mr. Junius became part of a disaster insurance claims team known as the Blue Angels, which represented agencies from around the Chicago area.
“He’d be brought in on cases involving everything from tornado damages to mass outbreaks of food poisoning,” said his daughter.
In 1980, Mr. Junius joined the Chicago law firm of Wildman, Harold, Allen & Dixon, where for several years he managed their Safe Step Ladder self-insurance program and became an expert on ladder construction.
“His research even had an effect on safety issues within the industry,” said his daughter. “He’s directly responsible for some of the warning labels you find on ladders today.”
According to family members, Mr. Junius’ success in developing strategies for the legal defense of ladder manufacturers resulted in a string of defense verdicts for the program.
“He really knew his stuff,” said Dave Cahill, a former colleague at Wildman, who is now a partner with Swanson, Martin & Bell law firm in Lisle. “He could look at a fracture on a wooden ladder and tell you how it happened. He could even show you how the wood splintered.”
Mr. Junius continued his work in ladder product liability as the owner of Risk Retention Services, which he founded in 1988 in Wheaton. Family members said ownership of the business had in recent years been passed on to his son Paul, although he had remained on as a consultant.
While proud of his professional achievements, those closest to him say Mr. Junius found his greatest joy in spending time with his family.
“I’ve known Dan for many years, and what always came first were his wife, children and grandchildren,” said Cahill.
Other survivors include his wife of 56 years, Anna May; two more sons, Marty and Dan; two more daughters, Susan Lance and Maura; two brothers, Paul and Ron; two sisters, Dorothy Horn and Rosemary Dransoft; and 14 grandchildren.
Mass will be said at 9:45 a.m. Friday in St. John of the Cross Catholic Church, 5505 Wolf Rd., Western Springs.
