Adams v. State

12 Ill. Ct. Cl. 106, 1942 Ill. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 23
CourtCourt of Claims of Illinois
DecidedFebruary 10, 1942
DocketNo. 3596
StatusPublished

This text of 12 Ill. Ct. Cl. 106 (Adams v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Claims of Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Adams v. State, 12 Ill. Ct. Cl. 106, 1942 Ill. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 23 (Ill. Super. Ct. 1942).

Opinion

Chief Justice Damron

delivered the opinion of the court: .

The complaint in this case, filed March 18, 1941, asks an award of $1,232.82. It states that Margaret Adams was employed by the Department of Public Welfare at the Chicago State Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, as an attendant.

That on January 24, 1941, she was reporting for duty, had entered the grounds of said hospital, which are set off by a high fence, and gate. That she had proceeded some fifty or seventy-five feet inside of the main gate of said institution, and while walking on the sidewalk, which was slippery with ice, she suddenly slipped, and was thrown to the sidewalk and sustained injuries for which she should be paid under the provisions of the Illinois Workmen’s Compensation Act.

The file consists of the complaint and amendment thereto, transcript of the evidence, taken on June 6,1941, and abstract of same, also evidence of claimant taken on October 3, 1941, brief, statement, and argument of attorney for claimant and assistant attorney general for the respondent.

The evidence, taken on June 6,1941, shows that the claimant had been employed at said hospital for some length of time, prior to January 24, 1941, and was in charge of a ward housing approximately 150 patients and had two employees under her supervision. That on the last mentioned date at about 6:30 A. M., while going to work, and having passed the main gateway, which was the usual and customary entrance used by employees and after passing within the grounds from fifty to seventy-five feet inside the main gate, and while walking along on the sidewalk leading to her place of employment she approached a curve in said sidewalk, and starting around the curve both feet shot out from under her causing her to fall. She was unable to arise for some time, but finally pulled herself up by the use of a light post which was close by. Upon arising she discovered that she could not put her right foot to the ground. Another attendant came along and with his and other assistance she was taken to the gate house where she was placed on a stretcher and taken directly to the institution hospital. She was put to bed, given a hypodermic to quiet her pain, x-rays were made, and sand bags were put around her right limb, the site of the injury. On the following day the right femur was set by Dr. Samuel R. Rubert, who held the position of Consulting Orthopedic Surgeon at the Chicago State. She was kept off her feet for approximately three months without weight bearing.

The evidence further shows she reported for duty on Sunday, June 15, 1941, worked one shift and due to the swelling and pain in her right limb she was unable to return the following day. She remained away from her work thereafter until the sixth day of July, 1941. She has been working regularly for the respondent since that time. The record shows that due to the injury she was confined to her bed for five weeks, then for about three weeks was in a wheel chair for a few hours each day and then was compelled to go back to bed. Later she used crutches to get around. Her wages paid by the respondent amounted to $63.00 per month and one meal a day at the institution, valued by the Department of Public Welfare at the sum of $6.00 per month. In her attempt to get well she incurred a doctor bill which is due Dr. Samuel B. Bubert in the sum of $300.00; $3.00 to Dr. B. M. Fonner, $2.00 for an office visit, and her wheel chair rental was $5.00. In all she claims to have expended or become liable for $332.70 for medical treatment and medicines, of which $32.70 was paid by her leaving an unpaid bill of $300.00 due to the said Dr. Samuel B. Bubert. All hospital services were furnished by the respondent except the above enumerated items.

Claimant at the time she suffered the injury was fifty-one years of age, married but having no children under sixteen years of age.

Two points are to be decided, first whether or not the claimant was on duty at the particular moment of the occurrence, and if so whether or not she is entitled to an award for temporary and permanent partial incapacity or disability.

The issue raised in the record is whether the claimant’s employment had begun at the time of the accident, under the terms of the Workmen’s Compensation Act. This must be decided before an award shall be made or denied. The testimony shows that she had entered the grounds of the respondent, the place of the accident being some fifty to seven-five feet within the main gate when she slipped and fell. In the case of Indian Hill Country Club vs. Ind. Comm., 309 Ill. 271, the court said:

“It is not essential to the right to receive compensation that the employee should have been working at the particular time when the injury was received. The employment is not limited to the exact moment when he begins work and when he quits work. An injury accidentally received on the premises of the employer by an employee while going to or from his place of employment by a customary or permitted route, within a reasonable time before or after work, is received in the course of and arises out of the employment.”
Union Starch Co. vs. Ind. Commission, 344 Illinois 77.
Sullivan, et al., vs. State of Illinois, 10 C. C. R., 18.

We must conclude that at the time of the accident in question Margaret Adams was on the premises of her employer ; was at the immediate place her labors were to be performed ; was traveling a natural and permissible course included in the field of her labor; the accident occurred at approximately 6:30 A. M. and she was due on her job at 6:45 A. M. We believe the record sufficiently discloses that the accidental injuries arose out of and in the course of her employment, within the meaning of the Workmen’s Compensation Act.

The next question for this court to decide is the extent of the injury.

The evidence taken on June 6, 1941, discloses that Dr. Albert C. Field, called on behalf of the claimant, testified that he examined the claimant on May 23, 1941, and found the right leg was somewhat swollen and edematized. The right ankle measured 9i% inches and the left 8% inches; her right calf measured 13% and the left 13 inches; the right knee measured 16 and the left 15.% inches. He stated the foot was rotated somewhat outward and there was a restriction of movement in the hip and she walked with a decided limp, and was using a cane. There was some limitation of flection of the right knee, the capsule being somewhat thickened. He stated the weight bearing surface was somewhat altered, and that the x-rays disclosed a fracture of the cervical neck of the femur which was held in apposition, by two screws, which were in place at that time, and that the fracture line was fairly well healed. He stated that, in his opinion, based on reasonable. medical certainty that her disability at that time was a good 60 per cent of her right leg. There was no cross examination of this witness by the respondent.

Dr. Samuel E. Hubert, who stated he held the position of Consulting Orthopedic Surgeon at the Chicago State Hospital was called by the respondent. He stated he was called on the ease the day after the accident, and found she had sustained an intermuscular fracture of the neck of the right femur, which he treated by insertion of two screws through an incision over the trochanter.

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Related

Indian Hill Club v. Industrial Commission
140 N.E. 871 (Illinois Supreme Court, 1923)

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Bluebook (online)
12 Ill. Ct. Cl. 106, 1942 Ill. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 23, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/adams-v-state-ilclaimsct-1942.