Illinois cases are seeing a decrease in values.
This involves all Workers’ Compensation cases.
We know that injuries starting in September 2011 will see decreased value.
However, we are seeing dropping awards for cases that are not impacted by the new law.
For instance, there was a recent Commission case that reduced the value of a full thickness labral tear, a partial rotator cuff tear and an impingement of the shoulder. This was a substantial injury.
The arbitrator awarded 32.5 percent of the shoulder.
The Commission reduced the value to 27.5 percent of the shoulder.
In the past this most likely would not have happened.
The Commission would have agree with Arbitrator and moved on.
The political climate is such that the Commissioners are sending a message to the politicians that they have heard the complaints and will be more conservative in the way they decide work comp cases.
The Commissioners are also sending a message to the Arbitrators to reduce the awards in these cases.
Now that Arbitrators serve limited terms at the pleasure of the Governor and the Senate they will also have to move according to the political winds.
Not very surprising that Workers’ Compensation cases will see a drop in value.
Questions about your work injury? Feel free to contact Illinois Work Comp attorney Dirk May at 309-827-4371.