Ronald Rascia named Acting Secretary

Chairman Latz has appointed Ronald Rascia as Acting Secretary of the Commission. Ron's office is now located in the Chairman's Office.

Ron joined the Commission in April 2011 as Chief Legal Counsel. He holds a BA in Economics from DePaul, and both a JD and Master of Law in Intellectual Property from John Marshall.

Commissioner Donohoo announces changes to calendar

Commissioner Donohoo announces changes to calendar

To accommodate the new Commissioner panels, Commissioner Donohoo has changed several dates.  For details, go to http://www.iwcc.il.gov/news.htm#cal

2014 open house dates

At http://www.iwcc.il.gov/news.htm#open we have posted the Chicago open house dates for the first half of 2014:  March 19 and June 19.

The program will begin at 9:15 am.  After an overview of our court process, visitors will observe arbitration hearings and review-level oral arguments. After oral arguments end, there will be a question-and-answer period with commissioners. The program will end around 12 noon.

To register, email susan.piha@illinois.gov

For more information, go to http://www.iwcc.il.gov/news.htm

Note changes to calendars

To accommodate the new Commissioner panels, we have changed two of Commissioner Brennan's Chicago review calls.  His March 18th call will now be held on March 14th; his May 6th call will be held on May 9th.  Both will still start at 9 am.  We apologize for any inconvenience.

Commissioner, Arbitrator assignments announced

Commissioner, Arbitrator assignments announced

Effective February 1, 2014, Arbitrator Barbara Flores will take over the call in Zone 4 (Geneva, New Lenox, Ottawa) formerly assigned to now-Commissioner Stephen Mathis.

The panels of Commissioners will be as follows:

Commissioners by panel:  Employee/Public/Employer representative

Panel A:  Thomas Tyrrell, Michael Brennan, Kevin Lamborn
Panel B:  Charles DeVriendt, Daniel Donohoo, Ruth White
Panel C:  David Gore, Stephen Mathis, Mario Basurto

Send contracts to CURRENT arbitrators; Another felony conviction won against uninsured employer

Send contracts to CURRENT arbitrators

Please send settlement contracts and other documents to the currently assigned arbitrator.  If you send materials to the arbitrator who will take over the case in January, you will only slow down your case as materials are returned or forwarded.  Please help us spread the word!


Another felony conviction won against uninsured employer

Another uninsured employer has pled guilty to a Class 4 felony for refusing to obtain workers' compensation insurance. John Linek, individually and as President of SMS Logistics of Chicago, has been ordered to pay a $10,000 penalty for refusing to obtain workers compensation insurance. The IWCC's Insurance Compliance Unit had been requesting compliance with the Act from this trucking firm since 2010.

In August 2013, the Compliance Division obtained a felony conviction against Ahmed Ghosien, d/b/a Ghosien European Auto Werks in Hometown. Ghosien pled guilty to a Class 4 felony for failing to obtain workers' compensation insurance. The IWCC's Insurance Compliance Unit worked with the Cook County Sheriff's Office and the Cook County State's Attorney's Special Prosecutions Division to obtain the conviction. Again, the Insurance Compliance Unit had worked on the case since 2010.

Both of these individuals were given many opportunities to obtain insurance before charges were filed, but they persistently refused. Employers who fail to follow the law put their workers at risk, and they enjoy an unfair competitive advantage over law-abiding employers.


For more information go to http://www.iwcc.il.gov/news.htm

Arbitration calendars online; Downstate 19(b) cases will remain at site

2014 Arbitration calendars online; Downstate 19(b) cases will remain at site

The 2014 arbitration calendars are now online at http://www.iwcc.il.gov/calendars.htm

In January 2014, arbitrators will appear at the following sites:

Zone 1
Collinsville: Lindsay
Mt Vernon: Lee
Herrin: Zanotti

Zone 2
Springfield: Pulia
Quincy: Gallagher
Urbana: Dearing

Zone 3
Bloomington: Erbacci
Peoria: McCarthy
Rock Island: Dollison

Zone 4
 Geneva: O'Malley
 New Lenox: Granada
 Ottawa: Mathis

Zone 5
Rockford: Fratianni
Waukegan: Falcioni
Woodstock: Andros

Zone 6
Chicago: Luskin
Chicago: Cronin
Wheaton*: Doherty
*Arb. Luskin will appear in Wheaton in February. Arb. Cronin will appear in March.


Note that Downstate 19(b) cases will remain assigned to the Downstate site.

In Chicago, the Commission will redistribute cases to create new calls.  In 2014, Arbitrator Carlson will handle the call Arb. Cronin handled in 2013, and Arb. Luskin will take over Arb. O’Malley’s call.

Arbitrator Holland Died

Arbitrator Holland died

We are sorry to report that Arbitrator Doug Holland passed away in his sleep. Doug first joined the Commission in 1986 as a commissioner. Since 1989, he has served as an arbitrator. He was well-respected professionally and well-liked personally. We offer his family and friends our condolences.

Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. on Sunday at Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa, with Liturgical Prayers at 1:30 p.m. Mass will be at 10 a.m. on Monday, October 21, at St. Mary’s Church in Utica.

 http://www.muellerfh.com/sitemaker/sites/Muelle1/obit.cgi?user=1131999Holland

http://www.stmarysutica.org/