A Belleville tavern denies liability in a suit alleging a woman was hit in the head by an unsecured patio umbrella. Donna Jenkins filed the complaint May 13 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Marco’s Tavern on Main Inc. According to her complaint, Jenkins claims she was legally on the property as an invitee on June 10, 2019, when…
Workers compensation is likely to experience a rough patch financially, but experts are optimistic that the line will rebound to its 2019 strength in a few years. However, the lack of data on COVID-19 and low interest rates are creating much uncertainty in the workers comp line, panelists from the National Council on Compensation Insurance and the Insurance Information Institute…
The COVID-19 aid package Congress is working on could cost taxpayers between $1 trillion and $3 trillion, but a central Illinois congressman warns if liability protection for schools isn’t addressed, it could cost taxpayers even more. Illinois Chamber of Commerce CEO Todd Maisch said there are some real concerns from an employer getting hit with a claim an employee contracted…
A worker at an ArcelorMittal steel mill in northwestern Indiana died after he was struck by a vehicle, the company said. The man died July 21 after being hit by a coil tractor at the Indiana Harbor steel mill in East Chicago, ArcelorMittal spokesman William Steers said. The company and the United Steelworkers were investigating the fatality, he said. The…
Lauded for their service and hailed as everyday heroes, essential workers who get the coronavirus on the job have no guarantee in most states they’ll qualify for workers’ compensation to cover lost wages and medical care. Fewer than one-third of the states have enacted policies that shift the burden of proof for coverage of job-related COVID-19 so workers like first…
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration must make public workplace injuries and illnesses records, according to an announcement Wednesday by the Public Citizen Foundation, which sued the federal agency in 2018 over access. The Washington-based organization said the federal agency has until Aug. 18 to provide the data of 237,000 employers, under a federal court ruling that ends a…
The parents of a former University of Notre Dame freshman who was severely injured during a party are suing the college, alleging the school put their son at risk by condoning a “quasi-fraternity atmosphere” in an on-campus residence hall. Sean Tennant, of Gurnee, was beginning the second semester of his freshman year Jan. 27, 2019, when he fell about 30…
A woman is suing Collinsville, claiming she was injured during an ambulance ride. Antia Roybal filed the lawsuit July 2 in Madison County Circuit against the City of Collinsville, alleging negligence. According to the complaint, Roybal sought medical transport from her Collinsville home to Anderson Hospital in Maryville on July 9, 2019, after falling in her home. She claims she…
A railway worker claims he suffered two separate workplace injuries when a faulty handbrake slipped and when he allegedly fell on ice. Patrick McFarland filed the complaint June 29 in Madison County Circuit Court against the Terminal Railroad Association (TRRA) and the Norfolk Southern Railway Company, alleging negligence. He alleges his employment and any claim is covered under the Federal…
Presumption laws for essential workers who acquire COVID-19 may have less of an impact than anticipated on the workers compensation system, but whether it will lead to an increase in claims workers compensation payouts is up for debate, said a group of panelists Thursday at Business Insurance’s webinar, Workers Compensation: Presumption & COVID-19. Workers compensation presumption laws, which presume that…
