On December 20, 2019, Public Act 101-0617 was passed, creating the First Responders Suicide Prevention Act. This Act is intended to address a troublingly high suicidal rate for first responders across the state. Due to repeated and unrelenting exposure to stressful and traumatic circumstances which first responders must face on a daily basis, long-lasting mental health effects, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD,…
Despite a whirlwind of drama in the final hours leading up to the Senate’s vote, a pension consolidation bill passed both chambers of the General Assembly this week which awaits Governor J.B. Pritzker’s signature before formally becoming law. The Senate’s 42-12 vote in favor of consolidation followed the House’s 96-14 vote on Wednesday. The main accomplishment of this bill will…
This past week, Attorney Brent Eames earned a victory for an injured client before the Workers’ Compensation Commission which included an additional award of over $17,000.00 for penalties and attorney’s fees against the insurance company for what the Arbitrator ruled was unreasonable and vexatious behavior. Our office represents an injured worker who suffered a significant work-related injury to her knee…
Disabling injuries take on a variety of forms, and can affect a person both physically and mentally. While it can be easy to understand a physical injury, such as a torn ACL or a broken bone, mental injuries are far more difficult to recognize and comprehend. These injuries can include diagnoses such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression, and they impact…
A task force assembled by Governor J.B. Pritzker to analyze the potential benefits of pension fund consolidation has formally recommended the consolidation of all non-Chicago police and fire pension funds for investment purposes. The task force’s findings and conclusions, which can be read HERE, concluded that the approximately 650 police and fire retirement systems spread out across the state are not…
Attorney Brent Eames has been retained to represent 7 disabled police officers from the North Chicago Police Department who are fighting to save their statutory disability pensions from the City’s attempts to have their pensions stripped due to an alleged refusal to comply with an obscure provision of the Pension Code. The City of North Chicago is attempting to take…
In an effort to close a loop hole which makes it more difficult for volunteer, paid-on-call, or part-time firefighters, emergency medical technicians, or paramedics to obtain temporary disability benefits under the Workers’ Compensation Act, State Senator Neil Anderson has sponsored a bill which would seek to remove the statutory waiting period for these injured workers to qualify for disability benefits.…
After years of litigation, we are pleased to report a hard-fought victory on behalf of one of our clients. Attorney Brent Eames represented a police officer in his claim for a line-of-duty disability pension as a result of respiratory illness caused by chemical exposure while investigating an active methamphetamine (meth) lab in Southern Illinois. After the officer’s treating pulmonologist opined…
The Public Safety Employee Benefits Act (820 ILCS 320/1) is an Illinois law which provides for the payment of the full premium of an employer’s health insurance plan for firefighters and police officers who suffer catastrophic injuries or are killed in the line of duty. This benefit is also provided for the injured or deceased employee’s spouse and any dependent children. …
On February 6, 2018, the First District Appellate Court upheld an award of benefits pursuant to the Public Safety Employee Benefits Act (“PSEBA”) for a disabled Des Plaines police officer who suffered a permanent injury to his knee as a result of inspecting an overweight semitrailer in the course of his employment. After effectuating a traffic stop for the suspected…
Award of lifetime disability benefits for permanently disabled worker with future value totaling in excess of $2,600,000.00 based upon life expectancy.
Award of lifetime disability benefits for permanently disabled worker with future value totaling in excess of $2,500,000.00 based upon life expectancy.
Settlement for injured client requiring back surgery as a result of an automobile collision.
Award of lifetime disability benefits for permanently disabled worker with future value totaling in excess of $2,100,000.00 based upon life expectancy.
Award of lifetime disability benefits for permanently disabled worker with future value totaling in excess of $2,000,000.00 based upon life expectancy.
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