2020 IL App (2d) 200217WC-U No. 2-20-0217WC Order filed December 7, 2020
NOTICE: This order was filed under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 23 and may not be cited as precedent by any party except in the limited circumstances allowed under Rule 23(e)(1). ______________________________________________________________________________
IN THE
APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
SECOND DISTRICT
Workers’ Compensation Commission Division ______________________________________________________________________________
SERVICE DRYWALL & DECORATING, ) Appeal from the Circuit Court ) of Kane County, Illinois Appellant, ) ) v. ) No. 19-MR-886 ) THE ILLINOIS WORKERS’ ) COMPENSATION COMMISSION, et al., ) Honorable ) Kevin T. Busch, (Hector Sanchez, Appellee). ) Judge, Presiding. ______________________________________________________________________________
JUSTICE BARBERIS delivered the judgment of the court. Presiding Justice Holdridge and Justices Hoffman, Hudson, and Cavanagh concurred in the judgment.
ORDER
¶1 Held: The decision of the Commission remanding to the arbitrator for further proceedings on the issue of vocational rehabilitation was interlocutory and, thus, not final and appealable.
¶2 Respondent, Service Drywall & Decorating, appeals from the order of the circuit court of
Kane County confirming a decision of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission
(Commission), which awarded claimant, Hector Sanchez, certain benefits under the Workers’
Compensation Act (Act) (820 ILCS 305/1 et seq. (West 2018)) and remanded the matter to the 2020 IL App (2d) 200217WC-U
arbitrator for further proceedings on the issue of vocational rehabilitation, as well as issues relating
to additional amounts of temporary total compensation or compensation for permanent disability,
if any, pursuant to Thomas v. Industrial Comm’n, 78 Ill. 2d 327 (1980). On appeal, respondent
argues that the Commission’s decision was against the manifest weight of the evidence. For the
following reasons, we are unable to reach the merits of this appeal.
¶3 I. BACKGROUND
¶4 On October 8, 2015, claimant filed an application for adjustment of claim pursuant to the
Act (820 ILCS 305/1 et seq. (West 2014)), seeking benefits for an injury he allegedly sustained on
December 5, 2014, while in the employ of respondent. On June 19, 2017, the claim proceeded to
an arbitration hearing under section 19(b) of the Act (820 ILCS 305/19(b) (West 2016)). All issues
were presented for determination, including causation, reasonable and necessary medical
expenses, temporary total disability (TTD) benefits, and vocational rehabilitation. Because we are
unable to reach the merits of respondent’s arguments on these issues, we find it unnecessary to
recite the evidence adduced at the hearing.
¶5 Following the hearing, the arbitrator issued a written decision on August 2, 2017, finding
that claimant’s current condition of ill-being was causally related to the December 5, 2014, work
accident. The arbitrator awarded claimant TTD benefits, reasonable and necessary medical
expenses, and vocational rehabilitation. Respondent sought review of the arbitrator’s decision
before the Commission.
¶6 On July 9, 2019, the Commission issued a unanimous decision and opinion on review,
which modified the arbitrator’s decision, in part. Specifically, the Commission vacated the
arbitrator’s award of vocational rehabilitation, finding that claimant had not shown that vocational
rehabilitation would increase his earning capacity. The Commission, instead, ordered a vocational
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rehabilitation assessment and remanded the matter to the arbitrator “for further proceedings based
upon the outcome of the same.” The Commission otherwise affirmed and adopted the arbitrator’s
decision and remanded the case to the arbitrator for further proceedings on issues relating to
additional amounts of TTD benefits or permanent disability, if any, pursuant to Thomas, 78 Ill. 2d
327. The Commission’s decision provided that the remand would take place “only after the latter
of expiration of the time for filing a written request for Summons to the Circuit Court has expired
without the filing of such a written request, or after the time of completion of any judicial
proceedings, if such a written request has been filed.” Respondent sought judicial review of the
Commission’s decision in the circuit court of Kane County.
¶7 On February 14, 2020, the circuit court entered an order confirming the Commission’s
decision. The court also remanded the matter to the Commission for further findings on other
issues, including vocational rehabilitation and permanency. Respondent filed a timely notice of
appeal.
¶8 II. ANALYSIS
¶9 Although neither party raises the issue of the circuit court’s jurisdiction, “this court is
required to do so sua sponte, for if the circuit court lacked subject matter jurisdiction, then its
orders are void and of no effect.” Supreme Catering v. Illinois Workers’ Compensation Comm’n,
2012 IL App (1st) 111220WC, ¶ 7 (citing Rojas v. Illinois Workers’ Compensation Comm’n, 406
Ill. App. 3d 965, 970 (2010)). It is well settled that “[o]nly final determinations of the Commission
are appealable.” Bechtel Group, Inc. v. Industrial Comm’n, 305 Ill. App. 3d 769, 772 (1999). A
judgment is considered final if “it determines the litigation on the merits, and it is not final if the
order leaves a case pending and undecided.” Supreme Catering, 2012 IL App (1st) 111220WC,
¶ 8 (citing Honda of Lisle v. Industrial Comm’n, 269 Ill. App. 3d 412, 414 (1995)). “In determining
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whether a decision of the Commission is final, the question to be decided is whether administrative
involvement in the case has been terminated or the Commission has ordered further administrative
proceedings.” Supreme Catering, 2012 IL App (1st) 111220WC, ¶ 8 (citing International Paper
Co. v. Industrial Comm’n, 99 Ill. 2d 458, 465-66 (1984)).
¶ 10 In International Paper, 99 Ill. 2d at 459, the arbitrator awarded the claimant both TTD and
permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits. On review, the Commission reversed the arbitrator’s
PPD award, finding that the claimant’s condition had not yet reached a state of permanency. Id. In
addition, the Commission increased the TTD award and concluded that the claimant was entitled
to medical expenses, as well as vocational rehabilitation. Id. The Commission also remanded the
matter to the arbitrator for further determination on the issue of a vocational rehabilitation. Id. The
circuit court subsequently confirmed the Commission’s decision. Id. Our supreme court, in an
effort to prevent “piecemeal review” of decisions of the Commission, vacated the judgment of the
circuit court and remanded the matter to the arbitrator, holding that decisions of the Commission
“which include generalized rehabilitation awards that require further determination as to the extent
and nature of such rehabilitation are interlocutory and, therefore, not reviewable by the circuit
court.” Id. at 466.
¶ 11 In Supreme Catering, 2012 IL App (1st) 111220WC, ¶ 3, the arbitrator denied the
claimant’s request for benefits under the Act, finding that the claimant failed to prove the existence
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2020 IL App (2d) 200217WC-U No. 2-20-0217WC Order filed December 7, 2020
NOTICE: This order was filed under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 23 and may not be cited as precedent by any party except in the limited circumstances allowed under Rule 23(e)(1). ______________________________________________________________________________
IN THE
APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
SECOND DISTRICT
Workers’ Compensation Commission Division ______________________________________________________________________________
SERVICE DRYWALL & DECORATING, ) Appeal from the Circuit Court ) of Kane County, Illinois Appellant, ) ) v. ) No. 19-MR-886 ) THE ILLINOIS WORKERS’ ) COMPENSATION COMMISSION, et al., ) Honorable ) Kevin T. Busch, (Hector Sanchez, Appellee). ) Judge, Presiding. ______________________________________________________________________________
JUSTICE BARBERIS delivered the judgment of the court. Presiding Justice Holdridge and Justices Hoffman, Hudson, and Cavanagh concurred in the judgment.
ORDER
¶1 Held: The decision of the Commission remanding to the arbitrator for further proceedings on the issue of vocational rehabilitation was interlocutory and, thus, not final and appealable.
¶2 Respondent, Service Drywall & Decorating, appeals from the order of the circuit court of
Kane County confirming a decision of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission
(Commission), which awarded claimant, Hector Sanchez, certain benefits under the Workers’
Compensation Act (Act) (820 ILCS 305/1 et seq. (West 2018)) and remanded the matter to the 2020 IL App (2d) 200217WC-U
arbitrator for further proceedings on the issue of vocational rehabilitation, as well as issues relating
to additional amounts of temporary total compensation or compensation for permanent disability,
if any, pursuant to Thomas v. Industrial Comm’n, 78 Ill. 2d 327 (1980). On appeal, respondent
argues that the Commission’s decision was against the manifest weight of the evidence. For the
following reasons, we are unable to reach the merits of this appeal.
¶3 I. BACKGROUND
¶4 On October 8, 2015, claimant filed an application for adjustment of claim pursuant to the
Act (820 ILCS 305/1 et seq. (West 2014)), seeking benefits for an injury he allegedly sustained on
December 5, 2014, while in the employ of respondent. On June 19, 2017, the claim proceeded to
an arbitration hearing under section 19(b) of the Act (820 ILCS 305/19(b) (West 2016)). All issues
were presented for determination, including causation, reasonable and necessary medical
expenses, temporary total disability (TTD) benefits, and vocational rehabilitation. Because we are
unable to reach the merits of respondent’s arguments on these issues, we find it unnecessary to
recite the evidence adduced at the hearing.
¶5 Following the hearing, the arbitrator issued a written decision on August 2, 2017, finding
that claimant’s current condition of ill-being was causally related to the December 5, 2014, work
accident. The arbitrator awarded claimant TTD benefits, reasonable and necessary medical
expenses, and vocational rehabilitation. Respondent sought review of the arbitrator’s decision
before the Commission.
¶6 On July 9, 2019, the Commission issued a unanimous decision and opinion on review,
which modified the arbitrator’s decision, in part. Specifically, the Commission vacated the
arbitrator’s award of vocational rehabilitation, finding that claimant had not shown that vocational
rehabilitation would increase his earning capacity. The Commission, instead, ordered a vocational
-2- 2020 IL App (2d) 200217WC-U
rehabilitation assessment and remanded the matter to the arbitrator “for further proceedings based
upon the outcome of the same.” The Commission otherwise affirmed and adopted the arbitrator’s
decision and remanded the case to the arbitrator for further proceedings on issues relating to
additional amounts of TTD benefits or permanent disability, if any, pursuant to Thomas, 78 Ill. 2d
327. The Commission’s decision provided that the remand would take place “only after the latter
of expiration of the time for filing a written request for Summons to the Circuit Court has expired
without the filing of such a written request, or after the time of completion of any judicial
proceedings, if such a written request has been filed.” Respondent sought judicial review of the
Commission’s decision in the circuit court of Kane County.
¶7 On February 14, 2020, the circuit court entered an order confirming the Commission’s
decision. The court also remanded the matter to the Commission for further findings on other
issues, including vocational rehabilitation and permanency. Respondent filed a timely notice of
appeal.
¶8 II. ANALYSIS
¶9 Although neither party raises the issue of the circuit court’s jurisdiction, “this court is
required to do so sua sponte, for if the circuit court lacked subject matter jurisdiction, then its
orders are void and of no effect.” Supreme Catering v. Illinois Workers’ Compensation Comm’n,
2012 IL App (1st) 111220WC, ¶ 7 (citing Rojas v. Illinois Workers’ Compensation Comm’n, 406
Ill. App. 3d 965, 970 (2010)). It is well settled that “[o]nly final determinations of the Commission
are appealable.” Bechtel Group, Inc. v. Industrial Comm’n, 305 Ill. App. 3d 769, 772 (1999). A
judgment is considered final if “it determines the litigation on the merits, and it is not final if the
order leaves a case pending and undecided.” Supreme Catering, 2012 IL App (1st) 111220WC,
¶ 8 (citing Honda of Lisle v. Industrial Comm’n, 269 Ill. App. 3d 412, 414 (1995)). “In determining
-3- 2020 IL App (2d) 200217WC-U
whether a decision of the Commission is final, the question to be decided is whether administrative
involvement in the case has been terminated or the Commission has ordered further administrative
proceedings.” Supreme Catering, 2012 IL App (1st) 111220WC, ¶ 8 (citing International Paper
Co. v. Industrial Comm’n, 99 Ill. 2d 458, 465-66 (1984)).
¶ 10 In International Paper, 99 Ill. 2d at 459, the arbitrator awarded the claimant both TTD and
permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits. On review, the Commission reversed the arbitrator’s
PPD award, finding that the claimant’s condition had not yet reached a state of permanency. Id. In
addition, the Commission increased the TTD award and concluded that the claimant was entitled
to medical expenses, as well as vocational rehabilitation. Id. The Commission also remanded the
matter to the arbitrator for further determination on the issue of a vocational rehabilitation. Id. The
circuit court subsequently confirmed the Commission’s decision. Id. Our supreme court, in an
effort to prevent “piecemeal review” of decisions of the Commission, vacated the judgment of the
circuit court and remanded the matter to the arbitrator, holding that decisions of the Commission
“which include generalized rehabilitation awards that require further determination as to the extent
and nature of such rehabilitation are interlocutory and, therefore, not reviewable by the circuit
court.” Id. at 466.
¶ 11 In Supreme Catering, 2012 IL App (1st) 111220WC, ¶ 3, the arbitrator denied the
claimant’s request for benefits under the Act, finding that the claimant failed to prove the existence
of an employer-employee relationship. On review, the Commission reversed the arbitrator’s
decision, finding the existence of an employer-employee relationship, and awarded the claimant
TTD benefits, along with reasonable and necessary medical expenses. Id. ¶ 4. The Commission
also “remanded to the arbitrator for a determination of the claimant’s need for vocational
rehabilitation, his need for maintenance, and his need for further treatment, as well as the nature
-4- 2020 IL App (2d) 200217WC-U
and extent of his permanent disability, purportedly pursuant to Thomas ***.” Id. ¶ 9. In addition,
the Commission’s decision “provided that the remand would take place ‘only after the latter of
expiration of the time for filing a written request for Summons to the Circuit Court has expired
without the filing of such a written request, or after the time of completion of any judicial
proceedings, if such a written request has been filed.’ ” Id. On appeal, the court concluded that the
Commission’s decision was not final and appealable because the Commission’s remand for a
determination of the need for vocational rehabilitation required further administrative proceedings
and, thus, the circuit court lacked jurisdiction on review. Id. ¶ 19.
¶ 12 Here, the Commission vacated the arbitrator’s award of vocational rehabilitation, finding
that claimant had not shown that vocational rehabilitation would increase his earning capacity. The
Commission, instead, ordered a vocational rehabilitation assessment and, similar to International
Paper and Supreme Catering, remanded the matter to the arbitrator “for further proceedings based
upon the outcome of the same.” Because the Commission’s decision, by its own terms, mandated
further administrative proceedings on the issue of vocational rehabilitation, it was not a final
appealable order. We note that the Commission, here, as in Supreme Catering, also remanded the
matter to the arbitrator for further proceedings on issues involving temporary or permanent
compensation, if any, pursuant to Thomas, 78 Ill. 2d 327, and provided that its remand would
become effective only after judicial review. As the court correctly noted in Supreme Catering, the
Commission’s reference to Thomas, coupled with the provision that its remand order would
become effective only after judicial review, created the appearance that its decision was
appealable; however, Thomas does not permit “ ‘carte blanche judicial review of nonfinal
decisions’ ” and “the Commission cannot, by the terms of its order, ‘declare a nonfinal order to be
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reviewable.’ ” Supreme Catering, 2012 IL App (1st) 111220WC, ¶ 10 (quoting Bechtel Group,
Inc., 305 Ill. App. 3d at 772).
¶ 13 Therefore, we conclude that the decision of the Commission was interlocutory and not
reviewable by the circuit court. Consequently, the circuit court lacked jurisdiction on review.
¶ 14 III. CONCLUSION
¶ 15 For the foregoing reasons, we vacate the order of the circuit court of Kane County
confirming the Commission’s decision and remand the cause to the arbitrator for further
proceedings.
¶ 16 Vacated and remanded.
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