Illinois lawmakers are considering two bills that would establish limits on causation for compensable workplace injuries and redraft medical fee schedules in workers compensation. H.B. 4082, introduced Wednesday, would set parameters on what constitutes an injury that occurs “out of and in the course of employment.” The bill states that such an injury would be compensable “only if the accident…
A second bill that would create a closed drug formulary for injured workers in Illinois was introduced Thursday, in line with a yearslong trend among lawmakers there aiming to mandate how drugs are prescribed under workers compensation. H.B. 4087, which was referred to the rules committee, calls on the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission, upon consultation with the Workers’ Compensation Medical…
Gov. J.B. Pritzker this week signed a law providing full disability benefits to Chicago police officers and firefighters struck by COVID-19 before vaccines were available, presiding over an emotional statehouse ceremony which marked the end of a financial struggle for responders including the brother of Comptroller Susana Mendoza. The Act-of-Duty law, HB3162, ensures disability benefits of 75% of salary plus…
A man is suing Illinois water companies, alleging he fell in a meter hole because the cover wasn’t securely placed. Plaintiff Patrick J. McDermott filed the lawsuit in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Illinois-American Water Company, American Water Works Company, Inc. and American Water Works Service Company, Inc., citing negligence. According to the lawsuit, the defendants are responsible…
Madison County jurors awarded motorist Kyle Plummer $77,800 during a re-trial for a lawsuit involving a Godfrey collision. The re-trial began April 17 in Circuit Judge Sarah Smith’s courtroom. Jurors reached their verdict on April 19, awarding Plummer $20,000 for medical expenses, $52,800 for lost earnings and $5,000 for pain and suffering. Jurors previously awarded plaintiff Kyle Plummer $20,000 following…
A man is suing the Altitude Trampoline Park in Glen Carbon after he allegedly injured himself by jumping onto a metal rod that was hidden in the foam pit. Plaintiff Stephen Schranck filed the lawsuit in the Madison County Circuit Court against Aim High Glen Carbon, LLC, and Vertical, LLC doing business as Altitude Trampoline Park, citing negligence. According to…
The utilization of nonhospital and hospital outpatient services in the Illinois workers compensation system decreased in 2020, the drop attributed to medical facility closures and service limitations during the beginning of the pandemic, according to a new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute. Tuesday’s study said the percentage of workers comp claims with major surgery decreased mostly in the…
Suits connecting Zantac indigestion medicine to cancer failed in nationwide litigation at federal court in Florida, so 583 refugee plaintiffs started over by filing suits in three Illinois counties. Their claims survived summary judgment in Florida because they had registered as potential plaintiffs rather than suing and paying fees. Most of the Illinois plaintiffs reside in other states and those…
A patient at Anderson Hospital claims she was injured when an orthopedic surgeon damaged nerves during a knee replacement surgery. Plaintiff Donna Clubb filed the lawsuit in the Madison County Circuit Court against Anderson Hospital and orthopedic surgeon Paulo Bicalho, citing negligence and medical malpractice. According to the lawsuit, Clubb underwent surgery for a total knee replacement at Anderson Hospital…
A landlord whose tenant’s pit bulls bit a mail carrier isn’t liable for damages, the Court of Appeals of Indiana ruled in affirming a trial court’s summary judgment ruling. Tiffance Fields, a Hammond United States Postal Service mail carrier, had filed a complaint for damages in Lake Superior Court after being attacked by two pit bulls on June 1, 2019….
