Petrilli v. Illinois Public Aid Commission

15 Ill. Ct. Cl. 145, 1945 Ill. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 14
Court of Claims of Illinois·Decided September 11, 1945·Published

Opinion

Fisher, C. J.

A request for an advisory opinion has been submitted by the above respondent based upon the following statements of fact:

Statements of Fact

Mr. Joseph Petrilli of Rural Route No. 1, Springfield, Illinois, claims to have sustained a deep laceration of the left wrist on the 10th day of April, 1945 while working for the Illinois Public Aid Commission in Sangamon County, Springfield, Illinois.

As a result of this laceration, the large artery in the left wrist was severed causing profuse bleeding.

At the time of this accident, Mr. Petrilli was employed by the Illinois Public Aid Commission in the Division of Office Management as Janitor I. His duties consisted of messenger trips to the Civil Service Commission, Merit System Council and the various code departments and commissions, assisting in the folding of letters and processing of mail for the 102 downstate counties and delivering same to the post office several times during the course of the day, keeping necessary supplies on hand for the mailing unit, assisting storekeeper in unpacking supplies and putting stock on shelves, procuring storage boxes and binding Public Assistance vouchers for the Cook County Bureau of Public Welfare and the 102 downstate counties for permanent filing purposes, moving furniture, desk and other office equipment when necessary, keeping water bottles filled and mopping up spilled water from coolers in the three Springfield offices of the Commission which are located in Rooms 201 and 403 Armory Building and at 219 Bast, Monroe Street, keeping excess dirt and rubbage swept up as required, replacihg light bulbs,, cleaning and keeping all fans oiled and moving same when necessary, moving file boxes for the filing unit from one office to another as required, removing excess waste paper when necessary and assisting in the wrapping of packages for the mail unit and stores department for transmission to the various offices throughout the State.

Responsibility for administration of the Public Aid program in Illinois is divided between the overseer of the poor, who administers general relief and care for the medically indigent, and the Illinois Public Aid Commission, who administers the Social Security program through the County Departments of Public Assistance of the one hundred and one (101) downstate counties, and the Public Assistance Division of the Cook County Bureau of Public Welfare in Cook County. The County Departments operate in accordance with uniform policies and procedures as set up by the Commission.

The Illinois Public Aid. Commission has created many divisions and departments through which assistance is administered, one of these being the Division of Office Management. The work of this division includes the receiving, storing, shipping, loading, unloading, packaging, unpackaging of all furniture and equipment used by the Commission throughout the State; and also the cutting of paper used by the Commission in its work.

Mr. Petrilli was appointed Janitor I on the 5th day of May, 1942. He works approximately one hundred and sixty-six (166) hours per month and for his services receives a salary of One Hundred Thirty Dollars ($130.00) per month.

On the 10th day of April, 1945 at about 10:00 a.m., Mr. Petrilli was replacing the empty water bottle in the water cooler with a full bottle. While doing so he slipped causing the bottle to break. Part of the broken glass cut his left wrist, severing one of the large arteries. (See copy of statement of Mr. Petrilli attached and identified as Exhibit I.)

Following the accident Mr. Petrilli was taken to St. John’s Hospital, Springfield, Illinois, by his Superior, Mr. Garrett W. Keaster, where he remained for a period of six (6) days. (See copy of Mr. Keaster’s Statement attached, identified as Exhibit V.) Many services were rendered to Mr. Petrilli while in St. John’s Hospital including medicine, laboratory examination, anesthetic, intravenous and dressings.

While in the hospital and for sometime thereafter, Mr. Petrilli was attended by Dr. David H. McCarthy, 608% Bast Capitol Avenue, Springfield, Illinois. During this period of time Dr. McCarthy performed many services including blood transfusion, sutures, visits to the hospital and dressings.

It was necessary for Mr. Petrilli to spend Nine Dollars and Seventy-five Cents ($9.75) for taxi fare between the doctor’s office and the hospital and his home. (A copy of the statement of Mr. Petrilli’s expenditures is attached and identified as Exhibit II.)

As a result of this accident it was necessary for Mr. Petrilli to be absent from his duties with the Illinois Public Aid Commission from April 10,1945 until May 11, 1945, a period of thirty (30) days.

Hospital and medical bills (See Exhibits III and IV attached) were as follows;

To: St. John’s Hospital, Springfield, Illinois. .$44.85
Said sum includes:
Emergency Room Treatment..................................$ 6.00
Anesthetic .................................................... 1.00
Laboratory: Routine Lab. Examination........................ 5.00
Sugar ........................................... 2.00
Urinalysis (2) ................................... 1.00
Pharmacy .....................................................40
Intervenous................................................... 2.50
Dietetics ..................................................... 2.70
Medicinal Supplies.............................................50
Dressings .................................................... 2.75
Hospitalization: 6 days @ $3.50............................... 21.00
$44.85
To: Dr. David H. McCarthy, Springfield, Illinois.. ................$40.00
Said sum includes:
1945
April 10 — 1st Aid — Hospital. $10.00
April 11-12-13-14-15-16 — Hospital ............................... 12.00
April 18-20-23-26-30 — Office ..................................... 10.00
May 2-5-10-18 — Office .......................................... 8.00

Claimant has requested that payment be made by the Illinois Public Aid Commission to him, Joseph Petrilli, the sum of $9.75 as reimbursement for taxi fee paid by him; to the St. John’s Hospital, Springfield, Illinois the sum of $44.85 for services rendered by them; to Dr. David H. McCarthy $40.00 for services rendered by him. The said bills have been examined by the Illinois Public Aid Commission and have been found to be reasonable.

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Petrilli v. Illinois Public Aid Commission, 15 Ill. Ct. Cl. 145, 1945 Ill. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 14 (Ill. Super. Ct. 1945).

15 Ill. Ct. Cl. 145 (Petrilli v. Illinois Public Aid Commission) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.