In re University of Illinois

8 Ill. Ct. Cl. 757, 1935 Ill. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 272
CourtCourt of Claims of Illinois
DecidedMarch 14, 1935
StatusPublished

This text of 8 Ill. Ct. Cl. 757 (In re University of Illinois) 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 University of Illinois, 8 Ill. Ct. Cl. 757, 1935 Ill. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 272 (Ill. Super. Ct. 1935).

Opinion

Per Curiam:

In compliance with, the request of Hon. Sveinbjorn Johnson, Counsel for the University of Illinois, for an informal opinion by this court as to the right of various employees at the University of Illinois to an award for medical or/and hospital attention furnished such employees, by virtue of any liability under the Illinois “Workmen’s Compensation Act”, the court renders its opinion in the several matters, as follows:

In determining whether the respective claims should be allowed we are mindful of the fact that such claims are not awards in the usual sense in which awards by this court are made and are not payable by appropriation in due course, but that such opinions are for the guidance of the University authorities, and that such claims, if paid, will be paid by the University authorities from funds at the disposal of the University.

Cases of the character here involved are not without their difficulties, and in these particular cases, decisions are made more difficult by reason of the very meager statement of facts submitted to us. In some of the cases submitted, it is necessary to supplement the given facts with the personal knowledge of the court as to the activities of the University and the several departments thereof in order to arrive at a conclusion. Ordinarily this would not be permissible, but inasmuch as this opinion is merely for the guidance of the University authorities, and does not constitute an award, we feel that such action is justified.

Although the several statements of facts do not so allege, we are advised that the University is an Illinois corporation, incorporated under a special charter in 1867, nnder the name of Illinois Industrial University; — the name being-changed to University of Illinois in 1885. The several statements contain no information as to the charter powers of the corporation, but the case of North vs. Board of Education, 201 Ill. App. 449, hereinafter referred to, states that the University was chartered “to furnish instruction to students in various branches of learning.” Gonsidering the several statements of fact as a whole, it appears that the University consists of a number of schools or departments which are practically complete in themselves.

Before setting forth the conclusions at which we have arrived, we will refer briefly to the principles of law involved, as set forth in the statutes and the decisions of the courts.

With reference to the manner in which the Workmen’s Compensation Act should be construed, the Supreme Court, in the case of Chicago Cleaning Co. vs. Ind. Board, 283 Ill. 177-181, said:

“The Act is commendable legislation and should be liberally construed in order to give effect to the purpose and object in adopting such Act.”

In the case of Newman vs. Ind. Com., 353 Ill. 190-193, the court said:

“The Workmen’s Compensation Act is a humane law, of remedial nature, and wherever construction is permissible, its language should be liberally construed.

In the very recent case of Raymond vs. Ind. Com., 354 Ill. 586-591, the court approved the decisions in the Chicago Cleaning Co. case, and said:

“The Compensation Act is remedial in its nature and has always been liberally construed by this court for the purpose of effecting the intended benefits to the employee and of palcing upon the industries affected thereby the burdens incident to such employment.”

Section Three (3) of the Workmen’s Compensation Act provides:

“The provisions of this Act hereinafter following, shall apply automatically and without election * * * to all employers and all their employees engaged in any department of the following enterprises or businesses which are hereby declared to be extra-hazardous, to-wit:
1. The erection, maintaining, removing, remodeling, altering or demolishing of any structure, except as provided in sub-paragraph 8 of this section.
2. Construction, excavating or electrical work, except as provided in. sub-paragraph 8 of this section.
3. Carriage by land, water or aerial service and loading or unloading in connection therewith, including the distribution of any commodity by horse-drawn or motor driven vehicle where the employer employs more than two employees in the enterprise or business, except as provided in sub-paragraph 8 of this section.
4. The operation of any warehouse or general or terminal storehouses.
5. Mining, surface mining or quarrying.
6. Any enterprise in which explosive materials are manufactured, handled or used in dangerous quantities.
7. In any enterprise wherein molten metal, or explosive or injurious gases or vapors, or inflammable vapors or fluids, or corrosive acids are manufactured, used, generated, stored or conveyed in ■ dangerous quantities.
7%. Any enterprise in which sharp edged cutting tools, grinders or implements are used, including all enterprises which buy, sell or handle-junk and salvage, demolish or reconstruct machinery, except as provided in sub-paragraph 8 of this section.
8. In any enterprise in which statutory or municipal ordinance regulations are now or shall hereafter be imposed for the regulating, guarding, use or the placing of machinery or appliances or for the protection and safeguarding of the employees or the public therein; each of which occupations, enterprises or businesses are hereby declared to be extra-hazardous: Provided, nothing contained herein shall be construed to apply to any work, employment or operations done, had or conducted by farmers and others engaged in farming, tillage of the soil, or stock raising, or to those who rent, demise or lease land for any such purposes, or to anyone in their employ or to any work done on a farm or country place, no matter- what kind of work or service is being done or rendered.
9. Any enterprise, business or work in connection with the laying out or improvement of subdivisions of tracts of land.
10. Any enterprise for the treatment of cross-ties, switch-ties, telegraph poles, timber or other wood with creosote or other preservatives. (Amended by Act approved June 10, 1929.)

Section Four (4) of the Act defines how the term, “employer” shall be construed, and inasmuch as it covers every “public or private corporation”, the University is clearly an employer within the meaning of the Act.

Section Five (5) defines how the term “employee” shall be construed, and under the second paragraph of said section, the several claimants in question are clearly employees-within the meaning* of the Act".

The "University being an employer, and the several claimants being employees within the meaning of the Compensation Act, the question then arises as to whether the University at the time of the several accidents in question was engaged in any of the enterprises or businesses declared to be extra-hazardous, by such Act.

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Related

Raymond v. Industrial Commission
188 N.E. 861 (Illinois Supreme Court, 1933)
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172 N.E. 49 (Illinois Supreme Court, 1930)
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Hahnemann Hospital v. Industrial Board
118 N.E. 767 (Illinois Supreme Court, 1918)
Chicago Cleaning Co. v. Industrial Board
118 N.E. 989 (Illinois Supreme Court, 1918)
Dietrich v. Industrial Board
121 N.E. 226 (Illinois Supreme Court, 1918)
City of Rock Island v. Industrial Commission
122 N.E. 82 (Illinois Supreme Court, 1919)
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126 N.E. 596 (Illinois Supreme Court, 1920)
Davis v. Industrial Commission
297 Ill. 29 (Illinois Supreme Court, 1921)
East St. Louis Board of Education v. Industrial Commission
298 Ill. 61 (Illinois Supreme Court, 1921)
Illinois Publishing & Printing Co. v. Industrial Commission
132 N.E. 511 (Illinois Supreme Court, 1921)
McNaught v. Hines
133 N.E. 53 (Illinois Supreme Court, 1921)
Board of Education v. Industrial Commission
134 N.E. 70 (Illinois Supreme Court, 1922)
Ascher Bros. Amusement Enterprises v. Industrial Commission
142 N.E. 488 (Illinois Supreme Court, 1924)
Peterson v. Industrial Commission
146 N.E. 146 (Illinois Supreme Court, 1924)

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Bluebook (online)
8 Ill. Ct. Cl. 757, 1935 Ill. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 272, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-university-of-illinois-ilclaimsct-1935.