1-16-12; More thoughts for everyone in the WC industry

In no particular order

The Illinois WC community mourns the passing of two of its members.

·         Vito DeCarlo left us much too early. He was one of the quiet deans of Illinois WC law and practice. He had over 50 years of experience representing injured workers before the Illinois Workers Compensation Commission, Circuit Court, Appellate Court, and Supreme Court of Illinois. He was a past president of the Workers Compensation Lawyers Association, Justinian Society of Lawyers and the St. Ignatius Alumni Association. In addition, he was named the St. Ignatius Alumnus of the Year in 2000. He was also a recipient of the prestigious St. George Award from the Boy Scouts of America. His daughter Anita DeCarlo continues to practice at the IWCC and is as brilliant as her father.

·         Adam Lagocki of Heyl, Royster was killed in a car accident, last Thursday during the storm. Our thoughts & prayers go out to Adam's family and to everyone at Heyl. His resume and photo are online at: http://www.hrva.com/attorneys/print.cfm?pageID=4&attorneyID=19&print

Onto more mundane pursuits, we are seeking rulings involving state workers where the workers are provided total and permanent benefits due solely to the State of Illinois refusing to provide alternative positions and/or vocational consultation. The decisions have to be issued in the last three years. Your editor will pay $25 for each new  IWCC ruling sent to our office.

We have also been asked by the folks who are reviewing the State of Illinois workers’ compensation system to provide the incident rate for lost time injuries in relation to the total employee population of your Illinois workers. They are concerned about the years 2009 and 2010. Your response will be kept totally confidential and is for legislative consideration only.

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