On April 13, 2020, the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission adopted new Rules in Sections 9030.70(1) and (2) of the Rules of Practice before the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission to address workers infected with Covid-19. These rules created a rebuttable presumption that employees who contracted the COVID-19 illness did so in the course and scope of…
Earlier today, Gov. Pritzker announced that he is appointing Michael Brennan as Chairman of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. He replaces Joan Fratiani-Atsaves. Other Commission appointments include two, new Public Commissioners. Moving up from her arbitrator position and replacing Mike Brennan is Barbara Flores. Josh Luskin is being replaced by Maria Portela. Both of the Labor Commissioners also…
It was not front and center on Governor Pritzker’s platform that he would be looking to push changes to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission personnel or procedures or pushing for changes to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act or Occupational Disease Act, but there were and continue to be quiet discussions at the IWCC and in…
I&F recently prevailed in a trial over the disputed issue of the Petitioner’s bilateral carpal tunnel conditions. The Petitioner alleged that her diagnoses and surgeries were due to repetitive trauma from her work as an English Teacher. The petitioner testified that her duties during the school day required her to use her hands for attendance, grades,…
Partner Kevin Deuschle previously obtained wins at Arbitration and before the Commission, awarding no benefits to the petitioner, in a case involving an allegedly work-related torn meniscus and eventual total knee replacement. The Petitioner had worked as a truck driver for the Respondent and testified that he stepped out and of his truck and down,…
Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Ms. Ketki Steffen as an arbitrator for the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. Ms. Steffen had formerly been an arbitrator with the Commission and will call upon her extensive workers’ compensation experience in her newly appointed role.
Governor Rauner has appointed Ms. Deborah Simpson and Ms. L. Elizabeth Coppoletti to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. Commissioner Simpson will be assuming the vacancy on Panel C but handling the case load formerly assigned to Commissioner White. Commissioner Coppoletti will be assuming the vacancy on Panel B but handling the case load formerly assigned to Commissioner Basurto.
In an Illinois case recently tried by I&F Partner Colin Mills, the claimant was seeking over six months of medical benefits, as well as PPD benefits, resulting from a lifting injury that occurred while working as a nurse for the insured. However, the Arbitrator agreed with our position that the claimant’s treating medical records clearly…
The Illinois Appellate Court recently held in ABF Freight System v. IWCC, 2015 IL App (1st) 141306WC, that the Commission was required to calculate AWW based solely on the wages from the position in which the claimant was working at the time of his accident. In this case, the claimant sustained an injury to his…
As previously reported, I&F defended a case in which the claimant alleged that removing and installing tires with an air gun, in conjunction with the use of a torque wrench to tighten nuts, resulted left carpal tunnel syndrome, lumbar radiculopathy, cervical radiculopathy, and left ulnar neuropathy. Prior to trial, partner Scott McCain thoroughly investigated the petitioner’s…
