Workers’ compensation reform became an issue during an appearance by the Republican and Democratic candidates for Illinois attorney general during a forum in Normal on Wednesday, according to press reports. The Chicago Tribune reported that Republican candidate Erika Harold supports business-friendly reforms proposed by Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner, who is running for re-election. That brought a rebuke by Democratic challenger…
Illinois’ efforts to become a more favorable captive domicile may have stalled, but they could resurface later this year when the legislature starts its next session, experts say. Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner last week issued an amendatory veto of S.B. 1737 — legislation that would overhaul a number of provisions in the Illinois Insurance Code — because of concerns that…
The Indiana Court of Appeals cautioned against plaintiffs proclaiming amounts in controversy will not exceed $75,000 unless they can be held to their word when it ruled in a semitruck crash case Tuesday. In July 2015, two semi-tractor trailers collided on Interstate 465, injuring one of the drivers, Julian Hayes, who later sued the other driver, William Harr, and Harr’s…
A spectator at the Sycamore Speedway car race track has filed a lawsuit against the stock car racing company and driver Timothy Erjavac after he was allegedly struck by a racing car in the pit stop area. Ryan Muir filed a complaint on Aug. 20 in Cook County Circuit Court, alleging the defendants caused or allowed the pit stop area…
A man is suing Apria Healthcare, claiming an oxygen tank allegedly fell and struck him. Kurt Horvath filed a complaint on Aug. 21 in Cook County Circuit Court against the defendants alleging they failed to follow applicable safety guidelines and regulations. The plaintiff alleges on Sept. 20, 2016, he was severely injured and will continue to suffer pain, discomfort, impairment,…
Two years ago, James Klenk of Freehold, N.J. suffered a heat stroke and went into renal failure after several days sorting and unloading heavy boxes in the back of a UPS truck. He had been a driver for UPS for 14 years and almost died that day. Klenk is one of countless workers across the country enduring symptoms of heat…
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner has vetoed, with recommended changes, a workers’ compensation measure that would have allowed for interest to be paid on delayed payment in disputes between insurers and medical service providers. In his letter explaining his veto action, Rauner stated: “SB 904, as approved by the General Assembly, proposes changes to the Workers’ Compensation Act to: 1) provide…
Ninety-two current and former employees of two Indiana lawn care companies – Super Cutz Lawn Care LLC and Precision Cut Lawn Service – have received $59,926 in back wages following two investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) that found employers violated overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). In its…
Who remembers Alphonse Maddin? Maddin came briefly to national attention in spring of 2017, after Donald Trump appointed Neil Gorsuch to the supreme court. Maddin was a truck driver and the central character in one of Gorsuch’s worst opinions as a circuit court judge. His story is one of the rare prominent examples of a vast, hidden world of American…
Physicians, hospitals and other providers that treat Illinois’ injured workers are in a severe crisis. In recent years, workers’ compensation insurers have exploited loopholes to avoid complying with basic requirements of Illinois law. It’s time to eliminate these loopholes. The issue is enforcement of current laws requiring timely workers’ compensation insurer approvals and health care provider reimbursement — these profitable…
