In re Cox

47 Ill. Ct. Cl. 586
CourtCourt of Claims of Illinois
DecidedDecember 12, 1994
DocketNo. 91-CV-2003
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 47 Ill. Ct. Cl. 586 (In re Cox) 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
In re Cox, 47 Ill. Ct. Cl. 586 (Ill. Super. Ct. 1994).

Opinion

ORDER

Per Curiam

This cause coming to be heard on the motion of State to dismiss, due notice having been given, and the Court being fully advised in the premises, this Court hereby finds:

(1) That the Claimant is now deceased.

(2) That the Attorney General’s office has notified the Court of the Claimant’s death.

It is, therefore, hereby ordered that the motion to dismiss Claimant, Lafayette Cox, is cause number 91-CV-2003 be, and is hereby granted.

OPINION

This claim arises out of an incident that occurred on February 15, 1991. Darlene Cox and Darnice Crump, wife and sister, respectively, of the deceased victim, Rohn Cox, seek compensation pursuant to the provisions of the Crime Victims Compensation Act, hereafter referred to as the Act. 740 ILCS 45/1, et seq.

This Court has carefully considered the applications for benefits submitted on March 21, 1991, and December 31, 1991, respectively, on the form prescribed by the Attorney General, and an investigatory report of the Attorney General of Illinois which substantiates matters set forth in the application. Based upon these documents and other evidence submitted to the Court, the Court finds:

(1) That on February 15, 1991, Rohn Cox, age 36, was a victim of a violent crime as defined in section 2(c) of the Act (740 ILCS 45/2(c)), to wit: first degree murder. 720 ILCS 5/9 — 1.

(2) That the crime occurred in Chicago, Illinois, and all of the eligibility requirements of section 6.1 of the Act have been met.

(3) That the Claimant, Darlene Cox, seeks compensation for funeral expenses and for loss of support for the victim’s minor child, Krystal Cox. The Claimant, Darnice Crump, seeks compensation for funeral and burial expenses.

(4) That according to section 10.1(c) of the Act, a person related to the victim is eligible for compensation for funeral expenses of the victim to the extent to which he has paid or become obligated to pay such expenses.

(5) That funeral and burial expenses were incurred as a result of the victims death in the amount of $2,094.60, $1,000 of which was paid by the victims now-deceased father, leaving a balance of $1,094.60. The Claimant, Darnice Crump, has paid $1,028 toward this amount, and the Claimant, Darlene Cox, has paid the remaining balance of $66.60.

(6) That section 8.1 of the Act states that no award of compensation shall be made for any portion of the applicants claim that is not substantiated by the applicant.

(7) That the Claimant, Darlene Cox, has not submitted adequate documentation to substantiate her claim that the victims minor daughter, Krystal Cox, was dependent upon the victim for support.

(8) That the Claimants have not received any reimbursements that can be counted as an applicable deduction under the Act.

(9) That the Claimants have complied with pertinent provisions of the Act and qualify for compensation thereunder.

(10) That the Claimant, Darlene Cox, is entitled to an award based on the following:

Paid funeral expenses $66.60

(11) That the Claimant, Darnice Crump, is entitled to an award based on the following:

Paid funeral expenses $1,028.00

It is hereby ordered that the sum of $66.60 (sixty-six dollars and sixty cents) be and is hereby awarded to Darlene Cox, wife of Rohn Cox, an innocent victim of a violent crime.

It is further ordered that the sum of $1,028 be and is hereby awarded to Darnice Crump, sister of the deceased victim, Rohn Cox.

Frederick, J.

This claim arises out of an incident that occurred on February 15, 1991. Darlene Cox, wife of the deceased victim, Rohn Cox, and Darnice Crump, his sister, seek compensation for funeral and burial expenses. Darlene Cox also seeks compensation for loss of support for the victims minor child, Kiystal Cox, pursuant to the provisions of the Crime Victims Compensation Act, hereafter referred to as the “Act.” 740 ILCS 45/1, et seq.

On May 5, 1993, this Court issued an order finding that Rohn Cox was the victim of a violent crime. However, the Court denied the claim for loss of support on the basis that Claimant, Darlene Cox, did not submit adequate documentation to substantiate her claim that the victim’s minor daughter, Krystal Cox, was dependent upon the victim for support. The Court did order that Darlene Cox be awarded $66.60 and that Darnice Crump be awarded $1,028 for funeral expenses.

On June 3, 1993, within 30 days of the denial order, Claimant, Darlene Cox, requested in writing that this case be heard before a Commissioner pursuant to section 13.1(a) of the Act.

On April 8, 1994, a hearing was conducted before the Commissioner. Claimant, Darlene Cox, appeared and testified. Also present at the hearing were the minor child’s grandmothers, Carrie Smith and Arlena Cox, who testified on behalf of Claimant.

Claimant, Darlene Cox, testified that Krystal Cox was the daughter of Rohn Cox. In support, she offered into evidence a copy of a birth certificate indicating that Krystal Ki’ana Cox was born to Darlene Denise Smith and Rohn Cox on November 19,1985.

Darlene Cox testified that she was familiar with Rohn Cox’s business practices and where he worked at the time of his death. Claimant’s Exhibit No. 1, which is an application for employment dated February 5, 1990, indicates that Mr. Cox had one child.

To support her claim that Rohn Cox supported Krystal, Claimant submitted into evidence a copy of a W-4 form indicating that Mr. Cox had one other dependent including himself. Darlene Cox further testified that the other dependent was their daughter, Krystal Cox. Also presented was Rohn Cox’s 1988 tax return, wherein he claimed Krystal Cox as his dependent.

When asked how Rohn Cox supported Krystal Cox, Claimant, Darlene Cox, testified that, “he would buy her clothes. And he would give me money to go shopping and buy whatever she needed.” Ms. Cox testified that during a period when Rohn had a job, he would give her money on a regular basis, with a regular basis being every two weeks. At the time of his death, Rohn Cox was working and regularly supporting the child. Darlene Cox testified that a week before his death, he made a payment to her.

Ms. Carrie Smith, Claimant’s mother, testified that she worked with Mr. Cox at J & S Professional Associates prior to his death. Admitted into evidence was Rohn Cox’s 1990 W-2 statement from J & S Professional Associates. Rohn Cox worked at J & S for about one year.

Ms. Arlena Cox testified that she was aware that her son, Rohn Cox, was supporting Krystal.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

In re Johnson
51 Ill. Ct. Cl. 598 (Court of Claims of Illinois, 1999)
In re Ramberg
50 Ill. Ct. Cl. 617 (Court of Claims of Illinois, 1997)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
47 Ill. Ct. Cl. 586, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-cox-ilclaimsct-1994.