Biography
Christa Binstock Israel is a trial attorney and shareholder at Atwood Law, P.C., L.L.O., where her law practice is devoted to representing injured Nebraskans in workers' compensation, personal injury, and wrongful death litigation. Raised on her family's farm and ranch, Christa has what we at the firm have termed "farm charm," which is strong work ethic, compassion for others, humility, and an unwavering commitment to her clients' interests. Those qualities coupled with her legal intellect, keen perception, and detailed analytical abilities have led to accomplishments both in and out of the courtroom, including successful outcomes in the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court and Nebraska Supreme Court.
Over her nearly 15 years of practice, Christa has garnered significant experience handling catastrophic and serious injury claims involving traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, complex bone fractures, and injuries resulting in chronic pain and psychological injury. She is also experienced in occupational exposure claims related to chronic or acute exposure to carbon monoxide, diesel exhaust, fungus/mold, and various other harmful industrial chemicals and substances.
Christa is a nine-time Super Lawyers Great Plains Rising Star (2016-2024), an honor bestowed on no more than 2.5% of attorneys in the State annually. In 2022, Christa was appointed by the Nebraska Supreme Court to the Nebraska Client Assistance Fund Board (term through 12/31/2025). She is admitted and licensed to practice law in Nebraska and the United States District Court - District of Nebraska. She is also a trained and certified mediator and a member of the Nebraska State Bar Association and Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys.
Christa and her husband, Jarryd, reside in Lincoln with their daughters.
Education
- University of Nebraska College of Law, Lincoln, Nebraska
- J.D.
- Dickinson State University, Dickinson, North Dakota, Dickinson, North Dakota
- B.A., Bachelor of Arts
- Honors: Summa Cum Laude
- Major: Writing and Political Science
Bar Admissions
- Nebraska
- North Dakota
- U.S. District Court District of Nebraska
Professional Associations
- Nebraska State Bar Association, Member
- Nebraska State Bar Association - Workers' Compensation Section, Member
- Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys, Member
- Nebraska Client Assistance Fund, Member
- Nebraska Judicial Nomination Commission - Workers' Compensation Court, Member, 2021 to 2024
- Nebraska State Bar Association - 2019 Leadership Academy Graduate
- Lincoln Women for Good, Member, Present
- Dimensions Educations Program Advisory Council, Member, Present
- First-Plymouth Church, Member, Present
Practice Areas
- Workers’ Compensation/Workplace Accidents
- Work-Related Death
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
- Spine Injuries
- Work-Related Motor Vehicle Accidents
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and other chronic pain syndromes
- Complex Bone Fractures
- Cumulative Trauma/Repetitive Motion Injuries
- Occupational exposure to harmful and toxic chemicals
- Personal Injury, including Motor Vehicle Accidents
- Wrongful Death
- Insurance Settlements and Mediation
Recent Noteworthy Judgments/Settlements
- $1,300,000.00+ Lifetime Value Trial Victory: Trial victory resulted in lifetime full disability and medical benefits valued at $1.3+ million over client's life expectancy. Case involved permanent lumbar spine injury necessitating lifetime need for medical care. Vigil v. Perkins County Health Services, et. al., Doc. 221 No. 1011 (Order entered 1/10/2025)
- $1,200,000.00 + Lifetime Value Stipulated Court Award: Successful negotiation of stipulated award resulted in court-ordered benefits of lifetime full disability and medical benefits valued at $1.2+ million over client's life expectancy. Case involved a semi-truck/trailer crash resulting in complex and permanent lymphatic system injuries. Decimus v. Drivers Management, LLC, Doc. 218 No. 524 (Stipulated Award, 2024)
- $780,000 Settlement: Successfully negotiated resolution of a partially disputed claim of an injured worker who suffered significant physical injuries in addition to an anoxic brain injury as a result of a workplace ammonia explosion, 2024
- $350,000 + Lifetime Future Medical Care: Successfully negotiated resolution of a claim concerning Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) resulting from a workplace injury, 2024
- $415,000.00 Settlement: Successfully negotiated resolution of disputed claim involving work-related traumatic brain injury (TBI) and other physical and psychological injuries. (2021)
- $450,000.00 Settlement: Successfully negotiated resolution of claim of injured worker who suffered lumbar spine and psychological injuries. (2021)
- $300,000.00+ Value Lifetime Award: Trial resulted in payment of past incurred medical and mileage expenses, permanent disability, lifetime medical expenses, and penalties (attorney fees, waiting time penalty, and interest) for employer’s failure to timely pay benefits owed to injured worker. Schroeder v. Genoa Community Hospital, et. al., Doc. 217 No. 243 (Award entered 3/17/2021).
- $1,500,000.00+ Lifetime Value Trial Victory: Trial victory in the Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court results in an award to injured worker of lifetime disability and medical benefits valued at approximately $1.5 million over client’s projected life expectancy. Client sustained severe spinal cord injury as a result of a work accident. Defendant denied liability and refused to pay any benefits prior to trial. Porter v. Hormel Foods Corporation, Doc. 217 No.0062 (Award entered on 2/26/2020)
Presentations and Seminar Lectures
- How to Stop the Other Side from Derailing Your Case: Ex Parte Communications, Meddlesome Nurse Case Managers, and Last Minute Reports (NATA 2020 Workers’ Compensation Webinar, February 2021)
- FELA Cases: The Basics (NATA Seminar: Pretrial Strategies for Successful Resolution of Personal Injury Cases, December 2020)
