Governor Quinn Appoints Three New Workers’ Compensation Arbitrators and One New Commissioner - Twelve Arbitrators Reappointed as Commission Sees Continued Success Following System Overhaul

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today announced the appointment of three new arbitrators to the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission (IWCC) who perform the duty of enforcing the provision of the Workers' Compensation Act. These three arbitrators will join the 27 who are currently serving. In 2011, Governor Quinn championed and signed into law historic workers' compensation reform legislation to overhaul the system in Illinois. Today's announcement continues the Governor's commitment to making Illinois government more efficient, accountable and effective.

“These individuals have years of professional experience that will benefit the Illinois’ workers’ compensation program,” Governor Quinn said. “I am pleased to appoint these arbitrators and a commissioner who will work for the people of Illinois to resolve workers’ compensation cases in a manner which treats injured workers with respect and ensures that employers in Illinois receive a fair and efficient resolution to claims.”

The reforms signed into law by Governor Quinn in 2011 called on the Governor to appoint new arbitrators to the Commission, considering the recommendations made by the Workers’ Compensation Advisory Board, which is a body composed of six members representing the employer community and six members representing employees and working people in Illinois. Arbitrators at the Commission are responsible for ruling on claims filed by employees who suffer an injury at work.

The law requires that all newly-appointed arbitrators must be attorneys and that both arbitrators and Commissioners are subject to the ethical rules and requirements followed by Illinois judges. Arbitrators and Commissioners must also take at least 20 hours of training every two years while in office regarding professional and ethical standards, detection of fraud, evidence-based medical treatment, and Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis.

Governor Quinn appointed the following new Arbitrators:

· Molly Dearing, J.D., Southern Illinois University School of Law; B.A., University of Illinois – Urbana/Champaign; Associate of Arts, Southeastern Illinois College

· Jeffrey Huebsch, J.D., Illinois Institute of Technology/Chicago-Kent Law School; B.A., North Central College

· Ketki Steffen, J.D., John Marshall Law School; B.A., University of Illinois – Urbana/Champaign

The Governor has appointed the following Commissioner:

· Michael Brennan, J.D., DePaul University College of Law; B.A., DePaul University

The Governor reappointed the following Arbitrators:

· William Gallagher, J.D., Southern Illinois University-Carbondale; B.A., Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville

· Carolyn Doherty, J.D., John Marshall Law School; B.A., Marquette University

· Joshua Luskin, J.D., University of Michigan; B.A., Macalester College
          
· Robert Williams J.D., Loyola Law School of Chicago; M.B.A. University of Illinois at Chicago;   B.S., Le Moyne-Owen College

· Barbara Flores, J.D., Chicago-Kent College of Law; B.S., University of Illinois

· Deborah Simpson, J.D., John Marshall Law School; B.A., DePaul University

· Brian Cronin, M.B.A., University of Chicago; B.B.A., University of Notre Dame

· Kurt Carlson, J.D., John Marshall Law School; B.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison

·  Gregory Dollison, Paralegal Certificate, Roosevelt University; B.S., Illinois Institute of Technology

·  Edward Lee, J.D., John Marshall Law School; B.A., Tulane University

· Molly Mason, J.D., Loyola University Law School; B.A., Harvard University

· Douglas McCarthy, J.D., Southern Illinois University Law School; M.A., Sangamon State; B.S., Illinois State University

No hearings nor settlements on September 11-12

All arbitrators and commissioners will be in training sessions on September 11-12. There will be no hearings nor review of settlements.   Please plan accordingly.

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Governor Quinn Signs WC Forcible Felony/Reckless Homicide Reform Bill

Governor Quinn signed SB 1147/Public Act 097-0276 into law on Monday.  The legislation excludes injured employees from receiving workers’ compensation benefits if their claim resulted during the commission of a forcible felony, a reckless homicide, or aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.  The law comes as a response to the State Trooper Matt Mitchell case, detailed in the Chicago Tribune & Belleville News-Democrat. 

These changes are in addition to the intoxication defense reforms included in HB 1698 (820 ILCS 305/11) as part of that overarching WC reform bill. Those changes include:

·         The measurement of intoxication is .08 for alcohol or any finding of illegal drugs.

·         The burden of proof shifts to the employee in the new law.

·         The law outlines the collection & testing processes and procedures for determination of intoxication.

While SB 1147’s reforms became effective on Monday, the HB 1698 changes only apply to injuries that occur on or after 9/1/11.

HFN CEO applauds preferred provider program & direction of care in HB 1698

HFN CEO David Kolb’s statement commending Governor Quinn for improving injured workers’ medical care through the use of preferred provider programs appeared yesterday in the TRIB local Oak Brook Business section.  It read in part, “Recognizing the need for integrated and coordinated cost effective medical for injured workers, this bill allows, for the first time, employers the ability to refer workers to a comprehensive network of medical providers, skilled in effectively treating workplace injuries.” 

Gov. Quinn will sign the WC reform package

The workers’ compensation reform package is almost official. Governor Pat Quinn will sign HB 1698 into law tomorrow at a bill signing ceremony. Here’s the full story on the Chicago Tribune.