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Group email news service

The Commission offers a group email news service.  When we post a story on this page, we also send it to our subscribed group.  If you would like to receive our news via email, complete the fields below.

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Come to an open house
Notice to people attending status calls
Ullico Casualty in rehabilitation
Governor Quinn appoints Chairman Michael Latz,
  reappoints Commissioners Basurto, Tyrrell, and White

PPP rules effective March 4
More info on Chicago, Wheaton docket changes
Bloomington hearing site moves 
IWBF memo issued
Dept of Insurance issues, replaces UR memo

Uninsured employers are getting ticketed, indicted
New Insurance Compliance form issued
"Kids don't have lobbyists"
An important message
Dept of Insurance to enforce interest, denial provisions of Act

New process for requesting files
Social Security numbers eliminated at IWCC
Wi-Fi available at IWCC Chicago office
Downstate settlement contract procedure announced
No cash, please 

Clarification on expedited (19(b), 19(b-1)) decision forms 
Please help us remove settled cases from the call  
Arbitration policies in effect   
Features on IWCC website
Think "Safety First" at work and at home

Injuries decline
Commission encourages more Settlement Days
Send court orders to Commission


 

Come to an open house

You are invited to an open house at the Commission's Chicago office on July 30, September 19, or November 5 at 9:15 a.m.  After an overview of our court process, visitors will observe arbitration hearings and review-level oral arguments. After oral arguments end, there will be a question-and-answer period with commissioners. The program will end around 12 noon.

If you are interested in a Downstate program, please send an email, indicating the city you prefer and how many people would attend. You are always welcome to observe hearings at any site on your own: see the calendars web page for details.

There is no charge to attend an open house, but registration is limited. To sign up, please send an email with the subject "open house" and the desired date.

When the Commission announced an open house in Chicago in January 2010, the seats filled up on the day it was announced.  Subsequent programs also filled up and have been well-received. In all, over 500 people have signed up to attend.  Visitors walk away with a greater understanding of how to interact with the Commission and work with the process. 

revised 5/20/13

 

Notice to people attending status calls

Please click here to read a notice from Chairman Latz reminding everyone about appropriate courtroom behavior.

posted 4/24/13

 

Ullico Casualty in rehabilitation

Ullico Casualty Company has entered into rehabilitation. Click here for more information.

posted 4/11/13

Governor Quinn appoints Chairman Michael Latz,
reappoints Commissioners Basurto, Tyrrell, and White

Governor Quinn named Michael Latz as chairman of the IWCC, effective March 25, 2013. Chairman Latz has served as a commissioner since October 2011. Before that, he was an attorney in private and public practice. He holds a B.A. and a J.D. from Notre Dame.

Governor Quinn also renewed the appointments of Commissioners Basurto, Tyrrell, and White.

The positions of former Commissioners Dauphin and Latz are now open. Other commissioners will fill in until the positions are filled.

Message from Chairman Latz

I am honored to serve as chairman and grateful for this opportunity. I will do everything in my power to make the workers' compensation program successful and to continue implementing the legislative reforms. I will enthusiastically work to insure that claims are resolved fairly and promptly. Please feel free to email me or call 312/814-6560.

Sincerely,

Michael Latz,
Chairman

posted 3/22/13



PPP rules effective March 4

The final rules on the Preferred Provider Program (PPP) have been published, and are effective as of March 4, 2013. PPPs were authorized by the 2011 legislation.

To view the proposed rules, click here. Select the link for Issue 11/March 15, 2013, and go to page 154 of the pdf.

Direct any questions about the PPP rules to Kari Dennison (217/782-1771) at the Department of Insurance.

updated 3/15/13; posted 4/30/12

 

More info on Chicago, Wheaton docket changes

Effective April 1, Arbitrator Doherty will take over the Wheaton/Chicago call handled by former Arbitrator Kinnaman (aka TBA1).

By May 1, Arbitrator Doherty's Chicago cases will have been reassigned randomly among the other Chicago arbitrators.  Cases that came up at Arb. Doherty's 1/25/13 status call for her February trial cycle will appear on other arbitrators' calls for their May trial cycles; cases last up on 2/22 for her March trial cycle will appear on calls for the June trial cycles; and cases last up on 3/25 for her April trial cycle will appear on calls for the July trial cycles.

Similarly, Chicago cases formerly handled by Arbitrator Zanotti (TBA2) that appeared on the 1/29/13 call for his February trial cycle will appear on other arbitrators' calls for the May trial cycles; cases last up on 2/25 for his March trial cycle will appear on calls for the June trial cycles, and calls last up on 3/26 will appear on calls for the July trial cycles.

Please note that all cases will remain on the same 90-day cycle. The only adjustment is that the cases are being reassigned to other arbitrators in Chicago.

Click here to look up the new arbitrator assigned to your case and the next call date

updated 3/14/13; posted 2/26/13

 

Bloomington hearing site moves

Effective immediately, arbitration status calls and hearings will be held at the Government Center, 115 E. Washington Street, lower level.

REMINDER: Do not send correspondence to this hearing site! Send correspondence to the arbitrator at the address listed on the "Contact Us" web page.

posted 3/11/13



IWBF memo issued

Click here to read a memo regarding Injured Workers' Benefit Fund (IWBF) cases.

posted 2/5/13



Dept of Insurance issues, replaces UR memo

Click here to read the recent Department of Insurance bulletin on utilization review services It supercedes an earlier bulletin on utilization review services.  Please direct any questions to Yvonne Clearwater at DOI (217/785-5987). 

updated 3/8/13; posted 1/3/13

 

Uninsured employers are getting ticketed, indicted

A Cook County Grand Jury has returned Class 4 felony indictments against three employers for failing to obtain workers' compensation insurance. Class 4 felony penalties are 1-3 years in penitentiary and/or fines up to $25,000.

1. John Linek, individually, and as President of SMS Logistics of Chicago. Mr. Linek has workers' comp insurance on several other businesses but continues to operate his trucking business without insurance. He has at least one injured worker.

2. Kevin Warren, individually, and as President and Secretary of Symphony Transport a/k/a Big R Transport of Melrose Park. Mr. Warren agreed to secure insurance and signed a settlement agreement to pay a $10,000 fine. He never complied with the agreement, and the insurance he secured was cancelled within a few months.

3. Ahmed Ghosien d/b/a Ghosien European Auto Werks in Hometown. Mr. Ghosien never had insurance. He agreed to secure insurance and pay a fine for noncompliance, but he never made payments and the insurance was cancelled a few months later for nonpayment.

It should be noted that these are charges only and all persons are presumed innocent until otherwise determined, if at all, by a court of competent jurisdiction.

In addition, since the legislature authorized the Commission to issue citations to uninsured employers, we have collected over $100,000 from 199 uninsured employers and brought over 1,000 employees under the coverage of the Act.

Making sure that employers have insurance protects workers and other employers. Congratulations to the Insurance Compliance staff for these achievements!

posted 1/2/13

 

New Insurance Compliance form issued

Effective immediately, if you need help identifying an employer's insurance coverage, please use the Request for Information on Employer's Insurance Coverage (Form IC46). This form replaces the Form IC42, Request for Investigation into Employer's Insurance Coverage, which has been eliminated.

Please send the Request for Information (IC46) to Yvonna Castronova, Supervisor of the Information Unit. Upon receipt, the Information staff will research the available resources and send you a report on what was found.

If you wish to ask the Insurance Compliance Staff to investigate an employer you believe to be uninsured, contact Robert Ruiz, Manager of the Insurance Compliance Division. Please understand that if an investigation is launched, we cannot share information about an investigation with you.

posted 1/2/13

 

"Kids don't have lobbyists"

Dear Workers' Compensation Stakeholder:

Thanks to your efforts, Illinoisans are learning about the fiscal realities of the state pension liabilities. State spending on public pensions will exceed education spending by 2016 if comprehensive pension reform is not enacted. The state's pension payments - which made up just 6% of the state's budget in 2008 - have soared to 16% of the budget in 2013. That increase has squeezed the education portion of the budget from 30% down to 26%. The squeeze by pension payments on essential state services is the focus of "Thanks in Advance," which has attracted 41,000 unique visitors and nearly 50,000 YouTube views.

Governor Quinn released Part 2 of "Kids Don't Have Lobbyists." Part 2 picks up picks up where the children left off in "Kids Don't Have Lobbyists: Part 1" That video was posted last week as part of Governor Quinn's "Thanks in Advance" Internet campaign to educate Illinoisans about the urgent need for pension reform.

"Kids: Part 1"--which has been viewed more than 5,600 times--went behind-the-scenes at a children's focus group about cereal which turned into a discussion of pension reform. As the gravity of the pension problem became clear and the kids realized their voices were not being heard, they decided to hire a lobbyist. In the sequel, the kids hold "Lobbyist Tryouts" and interview "Mr. Tim the Lobbyist." They realize "Mr. Tim is expensive."

View both of the "Kids Don't Have Lobbyists" videos at ThisIsMyIllinois.com or the "Thanks in Advance" Facebook page.

Get involved! The pension squeeze affects every taxpayer. One person can make a difference. Again, thank you for your support in our efforts to rescue the public pension systems.

posted 12/27/12


 

An important message

Dear Workers' Compensation Stakeholder:

Thank you for your efforts in promoting Governor Quinn's pension education efforts. Another way you can help is by engaging in the Governor's social media campaign. If you haven't engaged already, here is what you can do to help:

1. Please engage on the This is My Illinois Facebook page: If you Like our Facebook page, you will receive daily factoids and participate in the conversations. Please Post comments on the Facebook page to promote a constructive dialogue.
2. Please add the link to This is My Illinois Facebook page onto your page
3. If you are not on Facebook, sign up on our Website for email updates
4. Please educate your members, co-workers, friends and family about the impact of "The Squeeze"
5. Please see here for a great example of how you can get people talking about "The Squeeze"

Also, WLS-TV's veteran political reporter Charles Thomas recently had a terrific piece about the latest Thanks in Advance video, "Kids Don't Have Lobbyists, Part 1." In his report, Thomas notes that the video depicts kids as "the ones with the most to lose" due to the pension squeeze, and that a little Girl Scout "puts it all in perspective." In less than a week, nearly 5,000 people have viewed the video. I encourage you to Watch Charles Thomas's report, and, if you haven't seen our video yet, please watch it now and share!

You can help advertise "Kids Don't Have Lobbyists, Part 1" in a number of ways:

1. Post a link to the ABC story on the Thanks in Advance Facebook and comment on the story
2. Post a link to the ABC story on your Facebook page and comment on the story
3. Tweet an advertisement of the ABC story including a link on your personal and/or agency twitter account

Thank you for your assistance in this very urgent matter.

posted 12/21/12

 

Department of Insurance to enforce
interest and denial provisions of Act

The Department of Insurance has issued a bulletin to insurance companies, reminding them to comply with two provisions in the medical fee schedule portion of the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act:

Section 8.2(d)(2)

If the claim does not contain substantially all the required data elements necessary to adjudicate the bill, or the claim is denied for any other reason, in whole or in part, the employer or insurer shall provide written notification, explaining the basis for the denial and describing any additional necessary data elements, to the provider within 30 days of receipt of the bill.

Section 8.2(d)(3)

In the case of nonpayment to a provider within 30 days of receipt of the bill which contained substantially all of the required data elements necessary to adjudicate the bill or nonpayment to a provider of a portion of such a bill up to the lesser of the actual charge or the payment level set by the Commission in the fee schedule established in this Section, the bill, or portion of the bill, shall incur interest at a rate of 1% per month payable to the provider. Any required interest payment shall be made within 30 days after payment.

We cannot offer any comment or interpretation of the DOI bulletin.  The Department of Insurance is developing an expanded statement on the bulletin. We will post it once it is issued. 

updated 1/10/13; posted 12/17/12


New process for requesting files

Effective immediately, people who wish to view a file folder for a case in which they are not a party or attorney of record (petitioner, petitioner’s attorney, respondent, or respondent’s attorney) must submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. We will process your request as quickly as possible, but please understand FOIA gives agencies five business days to respond to a request.

Please email your request to Deputy General Counsel/FOIA Officer, Dennie Michelle Zankel (312/814-8770) and copy Nicholas Velazquez (312/814-6560).  Alternately, you may mail requests to 100 W. Randolph Ste 8-200, Chicago, IL 60601. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Zankel or Mr. Velazquez.

Parties and attorneys must provide proof of identity (ARDC card and/or valid State ID) before viewing files. Please allow 24 hours for us to process these requests.

The IWCC is dedicated to protecting the information of all claimants to ensure that information is not compromised under any circumstances.

Note: Before, individuals could go to the File Room window and request a file.  Now, all file requests must be submitted in writing pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act. Information falling under FOIA exceptions will be redacted.

updated 11/26/12; posted 11/20/12



Use of Social Security numbers discontinued at IWCC;
Birthdate now required

Effective immediately, in response to the Illinois Supreme Court Order M.R. 138, the Commission will no longer collect Social Security numbers. The Social Security field has been eliminated from the application and settlement contract forms. Do not enter the number on existing forms. Please update your electronic forms.

We will request the SSN in those limited circumstances where the information is necessary, and only then at such time as necessary, e.g., to process payment from the Rate Adjustment Fund or Injured Workers Benefit Fund.

We will remove the numbers from existing files upon request.

Because the Commission is no longer accepting Social Security numbers on the application and settlement forms, we have been working with our IT Department to find new ways to organize data on our case management system. Accordingly, we now require the date of birth field on the application and settlement to be completed. All applications that do not include a date of birth will be returned to the filing party.  Please remember to include it. Thanks.

revised 1/22/13; posted 11/16/11



Wi-Fi available at IWCC Chicago office

The Commission is pleased to offer free wireless Internet access at the Chicago office to the parties who do business with us. To register, you will need to read and agree to the terms of service. Send an email to the Information Department with the exact language,

“I have read and agree to the IWCC Wi-Fi terms of service, and agree to be bound to them.”

with your name, employer name, business mailing address, and your computer’s MAC (Media Access Control) address. If your organization will request access for a number of computers, please send all the MAC addresses in one email.

Only devices whose MAC addresses have been entered into our system will be able to access our network. To preserve bandwidth, users cannot videoconference using our wireless network, and smart phones will not have access. These measures will ensure that our limited connections will be available to the parties who do business with us.

Within five business days after we receive a proper request for registration, you will be able to access the wireless network using the password workcomp500. If you do not receive access, please contact the Information Department.

Please note that, once we authorize access, we do not have the resources to provide technical assistance to wireless users. If you experience a technical problem, please work with your own technical staff.

We hope this network will help parties conduct their business at the Commission with more ease.

posted 4/6/11


Downstate settlement contract procedure announced

In the past, downstate settlement contracts have been reviewed by arbitrators before the case was assigned a case number. Our research indicates this happened over 3,500 times in Calendar Year 2010.

The Commission is extremely sensitive to the needs and desires of injured employees and businesses to get files approved and closed quickly; however, this system does not give us a way to determine if any of those contracts go astray and fail to get entered into the system.

Consequently, as of March 1, 2011, no settlement contracts will be approved until the case has been assigned a case number and setting. The case number and setting must be entered on the face on the contract.

Downstate parties will need to mail 3 copies of the proposed contract to the Chicago Docket Unit with a self-addressed, stamped envelope. The staff will enter the case number and setting, and return 1 copy to the sending party. Parties will need to make at least 3 more copies before presenting the contract to the arbitrator.

Inasmuch as this will increase the time it takes to get an approved contract, we respectfully ask respondent attorneys to note this change and make sure they obtain case numbers and settings so that they can pursue approval of the pro se matters at the next available settings. Equally, arbitrators will review properly presented contracts without unnecessary delay.

The cooperation of all parties is greatly appreciated as we work to find ways to improve the consistency and reliability of our record keeping, which is critical to maintaining the integrity of our system.

Note:  Originally, the title of this article referred only to pro se contracts, but the policy actually applies to all downstate contracts.  The vast majority of unnumbered downstate contracts are pro se but, strictly speaking, all contracts must now obtain a number before an arbitrator will review them.  Thanks to the alert reader who corrected us.

revised 3/9/11; posted 2/1/11

 

No cash, please

Effective immediately, payments for transcripts and summons shall be paid only by check or money order.  If, in an emergency, a party needs to pay cash, an accountant from our Fiscal Office will need to process the transaction.

posted 5/21/10

 

Clarification on expedited (19(b) and 19(b-1)) decision forms

Please note that the fact that an expedited (19(b) or 19(b-1)) petition was filed does not necessarily mean an expedited decision should be issued. Administratively, an expedited decision form is one in which the arbitrator or commissioner

1) does not address permanency;
2) rules only on TTD, TPD, maintenance, or medical benefits; and
3) orders that the case shall be returned to the call using the “not a bar” language.

On an expedited decision form, in the Order section, the arbitrator or commissioner states,

"In no instance shall this award be a bar to subsequent hearing and determination of an additional amount of temporary total disability, medical benefits, or compensation for a permanent disability, if any."

This "not a bar" language remands the case back to the call for a hearing at which permanency can be addressed.  Whenever permanency issues are addressed--whether benefits are awarded or the petitioner is found ineligible--an expedited decision form should not be used. Depending on the arbitrator or commissioner's preferences, parties may file a motion to come out of the 19(b) or 19(b-1) process, or they may state on the record that the arbitrator or commissioner may address permanency.

In any case, to prevent administrative problems, please do not use an expedited decision form and delete the "not a bar" language. Keep in mind that, administratively, the distinguishing feature of an expedited decision form is one in which the arbitrator or commissioner returns the case to the call.

Thanks for your cooperation in these matters. It will help cases flow more smoothly through the process.

posted 2/8/10


Please help us remove settled cases from the call

Because it is important to all of us that the IWCC database is as accurate as possible, we are asking for your help in removing settled cases from the call.  Simply informing the arbitrator a case is settled is not sufficient. If your case was settled but still appears on the call after three months, please email or mail a copy of the contract to James Gentry, Central Files Supervisor, in our Chicago office.

In those rare instances where you cannot locate the contract, please complete the "Order Removing Settled Case from the Call" (IC34s) form, and obtain the arbitrator's approval. You do not have to complete this form if you provide a copy of the contract.

posted 12/19/08

 

Arbitration policies in effect

This is a reminder that the following arbitration trial policies are in effect:

1. Parties present and ready for trial shall be given priority over parties either not ready or those requesting pre-trials.
2. Parties will not be required by arbitrators to submit to pre-trials.
3. Parties who request a pre-trial will be given an opportunity for a pre-trial after trials have concluded.
4. All additional rules or requirements of arbitrators, as a condition to obtaining a trial, that are inconsistent with the mandate of Section 16 that procedures be simple and summary, shall be immediately discontinued.
5. All arbitrators will grant trials pursuant to Section 19(b) of the Act on any case where the petitioner is claiming past or current benefits remain unpaid, regardless of the petitioner's current work status. This includes past or future medical, TTD, and maintenance.  For example, if a petitioner has returned to work but TTD or medical remains unpaid, he or she has a right to a trial pursuant to Section 19(b).
6. All arbitrators at all downstate venues will begin conducting trials on each and every trial date listed on their schedule if requested to do so by the parties. Furthermore, the parties will not be required to wait through each day of the call until they are reached and may return for trial on the date they have chosen.

revised 2/14/12; posted 2005



Features on IWCC website

We are always trying to improve our website.  Here's a list of recent improvements.

1.

The Commission offers a group email news service that emails news as soon as it is posted to our website.  Over 2,000 people have signed up. To enroll, type your email address in the field at the top of the news page. You should receive an email asking for confirmation; if you didn't, you may want to check your settings for your email.  You may be rejecting our emails as spam.  The emails will be sent from wcc-newsgroup@lists.illinois.gov .

2.

The case information web page allows users to check the status of cases, obtain attorneys' contact information, status call dates, hearing locations, accident dates, parts of body injured, motions, connected cases, and terms of settlements/decisions. You can now search by employee or employer name!  This page is receiving 300,000 hits each month.

Please use this page instead of calling us for this information: the online information is more readily available to you, and our Information staff will then be free to give time to callers with substantive questions.

Because we update our database at night, the case screen is available Monday through Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

We have added the link on the upper right-hand side of our home page, or you can click here.

3.

Users may search online for an employer's w.c. insurance carrier, thanks to information provided by the National Council on Compensation Insurance.  This page is receiving 30,000 hits each month. There are links in the right- and left-hand columns on our home page, or you may click here

4.

Chicago trial dates are posted roughly one hour after a Chicago status call ends. The online list is the official list of Chicago trial dates that were assigned at the status call.  The arbitrator no longer manually stamps documents at the call.  If you wish to reschedule a trial, please contact the arbitrator to whom the case is assigned. 

Since this change took effect, Commission staff have been instructed to refer callers with questions about trial dates to the website.

5. You may now fill out and print the pdf forms using the Adobe Reader.  You can save them if you buy Adobe Acrobat.

Please let us know if you have any suggestions for the website. It exists to serve you, so tell us how it can be better.

revised 11/27/12; posted 2005




Think "Safety First" at work and at home

Which would you guess is higher: the rate of accidental injury at home or at work?  Believe it or not, the National Safety Council says home is more dangerous. And while work-related injury rates are declining, off-the-job injuries have increased significantly. 

Nine out of ten deaths and three out of four injuries to workers occurred off the job. Remember, safety awareness shouldn't stop when you leave work.

revised 4/15/13




Injury report

The overall injury rate in Illinois in 2009 was 64% lower than in 1990. Experts believe that some of the decline is due to improved safety efforts. These programs are great investments, because everyone wins when accidents are prevented.

Frequency of Injury by Type per 100,000 Workers in Illinois

POLICY YEAR

MEDICAL ONLY

TTD

PPD

PTD

FATAL

TOTAL INJURIES

1990

6,948

1,661

919

4

7

9,539

1995

4,877

1,226

675

4

4

6,786

2000
3,869
842
689
7
5
5,412
2005
2,585
600
541
13
2
3,741
2006
2,450
571
528
16
2
3,568
2007
2,806
636
634
19
3
4,098
2008
2,620
595
630
3
2
3,850
2009
2,295
552
544
2
3
3,396

Source: National Council on Compensation Insurance, Annual Statistical Bulletin, 1993-2012 editions, Exhibit XII, "First Report" data.  Fatal and PPD data are derived from a small number of cases and should be viewed with caution. TTD = Temporary Total Disability; PPD = Permanent Partial Disability; PTD = Permanent Total Disability.

Fatal injuries. Since the US Department of Labor started the CFOI study in 1992, fatal injuries have declined significantly: 26% in the US, and 32% in Illinois.  The construction and transportation industries had the most fatalities; transportation and violence are the leading causes of death. Men and self-employed workers are disproportionately likely to be killed.

Fatal Occupational Injuries in U.S. and Illinois
YEAR
U.S.
ILLINOIS
1992
6,217
260
1995
6,275
249
2000
5,920
206
2005
5,734
194
2006
5,840
207
2007
5,657
182
2008
5,214
193
2009
4,340
158
2010
4,690
203
2011
4,609
177

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Illinois Department of Public Health, "Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries," various years. Some figures were revised after the initial publication of data.

Nonfatal injuries. In 2010, 3.6% of workers experienced a nonfatal injury.  The highest injury rates occurred in trade, transportation and utilities; education and health services; and manufacturing.  The most common type of injury was a sprain or strain, and the back was the part of the body most injured.

Source: Illinois Department of Public Health, "Survey of Nonfatal Workplace Injuries and Illnesses: Illinois, 2010," September 2012.  For more information on the BLS/IDPH studies, go to the IDPH website.

revised 2/25/13


Commission encourages more Settlement Days

As we all know, the Commission is a high-volume operation. Each arbitrator handles roughly 3,000 cases at any time, which makes it essential to make the best possible use of his or her time. We also know that opposing parties on a case often do not meet until the day of trial. Valuable trial time is then spent on perfunctory matters, easily-resolved discrepancies, and hallway negotiations.

In response, several years ago the Commission started encouraging groups to hold a "Settlement Day" at the Commission. The idea is to bring the two sides together informally to discuss the case and narrow the issues in dispute.

In a typical Settlement Day, an employer, insurance company, or law firm will invite opposing counsel on 25-100 cases to come to the Commission to see if the issues in dispute can be resolved.

No hearing officers or Commission staff are present at Settlement Day conferences. If the parties reach agreement, an arbitrator is available to review the settlement contracts that day.

Thousands of cases have been resolved through this process, and the Commission encourages groups to try it for themselves.

If you find files that are ready to go and you invite the opposing counsel to a Settlement Day, "your success rate should be over 50%," says Keith Brown, senior claims manager at Wausau Insurance, which has set up over a dozen Settlement Days.

"You can close more cases in a Settlement Day than you would ordinarily close in a day or even a week," he continues. "Everyone's in a frame of mind to settle the claims out. It brings down both parties' caseloads and gets the files out of the system."

For more information, or to schedule a Settlement Day, please contact Nick Velazquez (312/814-6560).

revised 7/22/08



Send court orders to Commission

If you are involved in a case in which a court issues an order requiring the Commission to act, please send a copy of the order to Bessie Mims (312/814-6572), and ask the court to return the transcript to us. The courts do not always send us copies of their orders, and cases may fall into limbo if we are not informed. Thanks for your help in keeping the process running smoothly.

 

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