McKernin Exhibits, Inc. v. Industrial Commission

838 N.E.2d 47, 361 Ill. App. 3d 666, 297 Ill. Dec. 560, 2005 Ill. App. LEXIS 993
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedSeptember 30, 2005
Docket1-04-2103 WC
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 838 N.E.2d 47 (McKernin Exhibits, Inc. v. Industrial Commission) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Court of Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
McKernin Exhibits, Inc. v. Industrial Commission, 838 N.E.2d 47, 361 Ill. App. 3d 666, 297 Ill. Dec. 560, 2005 Ill. App. LEXIS 993 (Ill. Ct. App. 2005).

Opinion

JUSTICE HOFFMAN

delivered the opinion of the court:

McKernin Exhibits, Inc. (McKernin Exhibits), appeals from an order of the circuit court confirming a decision of the Industrial Commission (Commission) 1 awarding the claimant, Thomas Mokos, benefits in connection with his application for adjustment of claim under the Workers’ Compensation Act (Act) (820 ILCS 305/1 et seq. (West 1996)). For the reasons that follow, we affirm.

This case involves injuries sustained by the claimant as a result of a vehicular collision on April 17, 1996. The following relevant facts were established by the evidence presented at the arbitration hearing.

The claimant began working for McKernin Exhibits in 1990. At all times relevant to this case, he was employed as a carpenter. His duties, however, included making deliveries as well as carpentry work.

On April 17, 1996, the claimant reported to work at approximately 6:45 a.m. at McKernin Exhibits’ place of business in Harvey, Illinois. At 7:30 a.m., his supervisor, Daniel McKernin, told the claimant to deliver a cardboard graphic to Shellhorn Graphics in Chicago, Illinois. The claimant used a company pickup truck to make the delivery.

After delivering the graphic to Shellhorn Graphics, the claimant was returning to McKernin Exhibits via route 1-57. At approximately 9:30 a.m., the pickup truck that the claimant was driving struck the rear of an 18-wheel semi-truck as the vehicles traveled southbound in the right-hand lane on route 1-57 near 127th Street.

The claimant testified that he was traveling approximately 50 miles per hour at the time of the collision. He stated that the pickup truck he was driving had a wheel alignment problem and would shake at speeds of 55 to 65 miles per hour. The claimant also recalled looking at his speedometer prior to approaching 127th Street. However, Daniel McKernin testified that the pickup truck that the claimant was driving was his personal vehicle and that it did not shake at speeds of 55 to 65 miles per hour and was capable of being driven at speeds in excess of 65 miles per hour.

According to the claimant, the semi-truck entered route 1-57 from the 127th Street ramp traveling at approximately 40 miles per hour and merged into his far-right lane of southbound traffic without using any turn signals. The claimant testified that he looked to his left but could not merge into that lane of traffic due to the presence of a car occupying the lane. The claimant stated that, when he looked forward, he saw the semi-truck in his lane of traffic and applied the brakes. According to the claimant, his vehicle struck the rear of the semi-truck and was dragged about 100 feet.

On cross-examination, the claimant testified that he did not remember the facts of the collision for approximately one week because of the medication he was given. The records of his treating physician, however, indicate that the claimant had no recollection of the event two months after the accident. In contrast, in a discovery deposition given by the claimant in a common law action, he testified that he could always remember the circumstances of the collision.

Jackie Ray Edwards, the driver of the semi-truck struck by the claimant, testified that he entered route 1-57 from the 111th Street ramp and had been on the highway for several minutes prior to the collision. Edwards stated that he was traveling at approximately 45 miles per hour when his vehicle was struck in the rear by the claimant’s pickup truck. According to Edwards, following the impact, the claimant’s vehicle was dragged 250 to 300 feet.

Kenneth Baker, an accident reconstruction expert, testified on behalf of McKernin Exhibits. Baker opined that the claimant’s vehicle was traveling between 70 to 80 miles per hour at the time of impact.

After the collision, the claimant was taken to a hospital where he remained until April 28, 1996. He admitted on cross-examination that a urinalysis test taken at the hospital on the date of the accident revealed cocaine in his system. The claimant testified that he had used cocaine one to two weeks prior to the accident. Daniel McKernin testified that the claimant told him that he had used cocaine three weeks prior to the accident. The claimant also admitted that he had been found guilty of three felony counts of delivery of cannabis and was on three years’ felony probation at the time of the arbitration hearing.

Dr. Shaku Teas, a forensic pathologist, testified on behalf of the claimant. Although acknowledging that the claimant tested positive for cocaine use, her review of the claimant’s medical records revealed no physical signs consistent with cocaine intoxication. Based on her review of the claimant’s medical records and toxicology test results, Dr. Teas opined that there was no evidence that the claimant was impaired or intoxicated at the time of the accident. She admitted, however, that she did not speak with the claimant concerning the accident, but only reviewed the records furnished to her by his attorney. She also acknowledged that it is not possible for cocaine to remain in a person’s system for one to two weeks. According to Dr. Teas, evidence of cocaine use may be found for a maximum of six days.

Daniel McKernin testified that he observed the claimant for 20 to 30 minutes prior to directing him to make the delivery to Shellhorn Graphics on the morning of the accident. According to Daniel McKernin, he had no evidence that the claimant was using cocaine on the date of the accident. He testified that, if an employee appeared to be intoxicated or impaired, he would not permit the employee to interact with customers.

James McKernin, one of the owners of McKernin Exhibits, testified that he received a telephone call from the claimant’s wife, Diana Mokos, on April 17, 1996, after the accident. According to James Mc-Kernin, she told him that the claimant had not come home the night before.

Following a hearing, the arbitrator rendered a decision in which she stated that she gave “little, if any, weight to the testimony of the *** [claimant] as his testimony was inconsistente,] evasive and not supported by the evidence.” Nevertheless, the arbitrator found that the claimant sustained accidental injuries arising out of and in the course of his employment with McKernin Exhibits and awarded him benefits for both temporary total disability and permanent partial disability. Additionally, the arbitrator ordered McKernin Exhibits to pay $145,039.44 for necessary medical expenses incurred by the claimant.

McKernin Exhibits sought a review of the arbitrator’s decision before the Commission. In a decision signed by two commissioners, without dissent, the Commission affirmed and adopted the arbitrator’s decision.

McKernin Exhibits filed a petition for judicial review of the Commission’s decision in the circuit court of Cook County. The circuit court confirmed the Commission’s decision, and this appeal followed.

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Bluebook (online)
838 N.E.2d 47, 361 Ill. App. 3d 666, 297 Ill. Dec. 560, 2005 Ill. App. LEXIS 993, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mckernin-exhibits-inc-v-industrial-commission-illappct-2005.