Neal v. State

12 Ill. Ct. Cl. 364, 1942 Ill. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 108
CourtCourt of Claims of Illinois
DecidedJanuary 13, 1942
DocketNo. 3395
StatusPublished

This text of 12 Ill. Ct. Cl. 364 (Neal 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
Neal v. State, 12 Ill. Ct. Cl. 364, 1942 Ill. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 108 (Ill. Super. Ct. 1942).

Opinion

Fisher, J.

The claimant, Charles Neal, was employed ás a truck driver by the State of Illinois, Department of Public Works and Buildings, Division of Highways, Unit “D,” building the Lincoln Highway which runs southwesterly out of Charleston, and while so employed on September 2, 1938 shortly after reporting for work, while walking down the highway toward his truck intending to get into it in the performance of his duties he was struck from behind by another truck, knocked down and run over, suffering a fracture of his right shoulder, a fracture of the pelvis and a compound fracture of the left foot. Claimant was taken immediately to the Oakwood Hospital in Charleston and placed under the care of Dr. J. R. Alexander, who reported his injuries as follows:

“Fractures: Right iliac crest, impacted fracture right femur, right clavicle, second, third, fourth and fifth metatarsal bones left foot. Bruised right knee.”

Thereafter, on September 6th, claimant was transported to St. Luke’s Hospital in Chicago, where he was placed under the care of Dr. H. B. Thomas, Professor of Orthopedics at the University of Illinois Medical College. He remained there until October 18th when he was discharged and registered at the Y. M. C. A. Hotel, continuing his treatments under the direction of Dr. Thomas. On November 5th he was sent to his home where he remained until November 28th, when he again returned to Chicago for the purpose of additional treatment. He again went home on December 20th and returned to Chicago on January 9,1939 and was treated until January 28th, when he returned home. On February 3, 1939 Dr. Thomas reported to the Division of Highways as follows:

“Has a healed fracture over the distal end of the right clavicle with the following range of motion in the right shoulder: notation practically normal, elevation either from abduction or forward flexion lacks about 15 degrees of being complete as fellow.
“A healed fracture of the anterior crest of right ilium, the fragment being displaced downward enough to block flexion of this hip at 110 degrees.
“The metatarsal fractures have healed nicely, the X-ray evidence of acute bone atrophy is diminishing and the patient’s complaint of the foot is diminishing. Pre and supination of the foot, inversion and eversion of the heel, flexion and extension of toes are 80% of normal, the circumference of the right calf %" and thigh %" less than their fellow.
“Loss of motion at hip joint to pelvis but he can’t bring it up to his abdomen — that part of the arc not used much. He can sit comfortably with the thigh at right angles to the pelvis and he can raise the thigh even more until there is only about 45 degrees between the thigh and body.
“I would expect the disability of the foot to disappear completely if he keeps using it. The disability about the right hip will be permanent and I would estimate it at about 15%.”

This claim is filed for the benefits of the Workmen’s Compensation Act as the same is applicable to State employees. As the record shows that the State had immediate notice of his accident and that the. claimant was paid for temporary total disability compensation up to February 5, 1939, which said payment constituted a waiver of notice of claim for compensation within six months, and his claim was filed on July 10, 1939, within one year of the date of the accident, we find that this court has jurisdiction.

“The construction and maintenance of a hard-surfaced public highway is the maintenance and construction of a structure under the Workmen’s Com- ' pensation Act.”
Manhart vs. State, 8 C. C. R., 356 (357).
City of Rock Island vs. Ind. Com., 287 Ill. 76 (79).

and this court is of the opinion that his work was of such a hazardous nature that he is entitled to recovery under the Workmen’s Compensation Act. The evidence also plainly shows that the claimant suffered his injuries in the course of his employment and out of his said employment.

The claimant was 57 years of age, married, residing with his wife, and had no children under the age of 16 years dependent upon him for support. The State of Illinois paid him the sum of One Hundred Sixty-six and 07/100 Dollars ($166.07) for the temporary total disability compensation and also paid out the sum of Bight Hundred Sixty-seven and 58/100 Dollars ($867.58) for doctor, hospital and treatment expense. The claimant, by his complaint, alleges there is due him the sum of Four Thousand Dollars ($4,000.00) less the One Hundred Sixty-six and 07/100 Dollars ($166.07) paid for temporary total -disability compensation, leaving a balance due him of Three Thousand Eight Hundred Thirty-three and 93/100 Dollars ($3,833.93) plus Three Hundred Twenty Dollars ($320.00) pension per year for life.

In deciding the amount of compensation to which claimant is entitled, the court must determine

First:
For what period and at what weekly rate payment shall be allowed for temporary total disability;
Second:
Is he entitled to recover for permanent partial disability under paragraph (d), Section (8) of the Workmen’s Compensation Act; or Third:
Is he entitled to recover for permanent partial loss of the use of his arm, leg and foot under sub-paragraph (17), paragraph (e) Section (8) of the Workmen’s Compensation Act.

In determining the rate of compensation, we note from the evidence that the claimant was employed on August 12, 1938 and was injured on September 2, 1938, a period of less than one month. He worked fifteen (15) days during this period averaging about seven (7) hours per day for which he was paid $.50 an hour up to August 23, 1938 and $.60 an hour thereafter, earning total wages during his employment of Fifty-eight and 40/100 Dollars ($58.40). Claimant alleges he was being paid $.60 an hour and worked an average of seven (7). hours a day. From the evidence submitted by the Division of Highways, truck drivers employed similarly to the claimant work less than two hundred (200) days a year, which evidence was not disputed. This court is of the opinion that the rate should be determined under Section (10), paragraphs (c), (e) and (i) of the Workmen’s Compensation Act, which reads as follows:

“The basis for computing the compensation provided for in sections (7) and (8) "of the Act shall be as follows:
“(c) If the injured person has not been engaged in the employment of the same employer for the full year immediately preceding the accident, the compensation shall be computed according to the annual earnings which persons of the same class in the same employment and same location, (or if that be impracticable, of neighboring employments of the same kind) have earned during such period.

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Related

Scully v. Industrial Commission
120 N.E. 492 (Illinois Supreme Court, 1918)
City of Rock Island v. Industrial Commission
122 N.E. 82 (Illinois Supreme Court, 1919)
Peabody Coal Co. v. Industrial Commission
124 N.E. 566 (Illinois Supreme Court, 1919)
Solar-Sturges Manufacturing Co. v. Industrial Commission
146 N.E. 572 (Illinois Supreme Court, 1925)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
12 Ill. Ct. Cl. 364, 1942 Ill. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 108, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/neal-v-state-ilclaimsct-1942.