A woman is suing her former employer and insurer for allegedly terminating her for filing a workers’ compensation claim. Jennifer Harrison filed a complaint on Sept. 17 in the Madison County Circuit Court against The Garden Kingdom Inc. and Erie Insurance, alleging they violated the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act. According to the complaint she was injured during the course of…
One of the most common challenges facing employers in Illinois workers’ compensation claims is preventing or minimizing exposure for disability benefits while an employee is recuperating from a work related injury. If the employee has a complete work restriction, temporary total disability (TTD) is owed under 820 ILCS 305/8(b). If the employee has light duty restrictions, the employer can avoid…
The introduction of legislation impacting first responders was named the top trend in workers compensation reforms countrywide by the National Council on Compensation Insurance despite the fact that only a handful of bills have passed to date. Boca Raton, Florida-based NCCI tracked 814 state bills in 2018 and found that 103 of them dealt with first responders battling post-traumatic stress…
A passenger is suing a Mexican airlines in a case involving the crash of a jet bound for Chicago on July 31. Dorelia Rivera filed a complaint on Sept. 12 in Cook County Circuit Court against AeroMexico and AeroMexico Connect, alleging she was injured while on Flight 243 departing Durango, Mexico, for Chicago, because the pilots allegedly were negligent in…
A state appeals panel has overturned a $4.6 million judgment in favor of a man who said he contracted mesothelioma by inhaling asbestos fibers while working near welding rods. Justices Peter Cavanagh, Lisa Holder White and Craig DeArmond of the Fourth District Appellate Court in Springfield issued an opinion Sept. 5 in a dispute between former welder Charles McKinney and…
A tenant is suing his Worden landlord after he was allegedly injured when rotting flooring gave way. Jeffrey Wright filed a complaint on Sept. 7 in Madison County Circuit Court against Daniel Rhodes, alleging the landlord negligently maintained the property in an unsafe and dangerous condition. According to the complaint, the plaintiff was injured when the flooring underneath his rented…
A construction worker accuses a driver of speeding through a construction zone and causing injuries. Arthur Sims filed a complaint on Aug. 31 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Brian C. Webb, alleging he sped through a construction zone. According to the complaint, the plaintiff was working in a construction zone on Frank Scott Parkway East in Shiloh when…
Section 5(a) of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act provides the damages an employer must pay for work-related injuries. It specifies a worker injured in the line of duty cannot sue her employer or its other employees. That prohibition is easy enough to apply where one employee is injured by the negligence of another, or of the employer, at the business…
Passengers are suing United Airlines Inc. and CommutAir, claiming they were traumatized when the plane they were traveling in had to make an emergency landing. Pamela S. Glover, Gregory L. Glover and Scott E. Glover filed a complaint on Aug. 24 in Cook County Circuit Court, alleging , on Sept. 24, 2016, Pamela Glover was traveling with her granddaughter, identified…
A motorist is blaming Walmart for a fatal crash that allegedly happened after her vehicle’s front tire was changed at Walmart but “deflated and came entirely off the rim,” as she drove on Interstate 90, causing two vehicles to slam into her car. Carlota Brinson filed a complaint on Sept. 5 in Cook County Circuit Court against Walmart and Matthew…
