Murff v. Illinois Workers' Compensation Comm'n

2017 IL App (1st) 160005WCWorkers' Compensation
Commission Division
Opinion Filed: January 6, 2017
No. 1-16-0005WC
______________________________________________________________________________
IN THE
APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
FIRST DISTRICT
______________________________________________________________________________
ANTHONY MURFF, ) Appeal from the
) Circuit Court of
Appellant, ) Cook County
)
v. ) No. 15 L 50353
)
THE ILLINOIS WORKERS' COMPENSATION )
COMMISSION et al. ) Honorable
) Carl Anthony Walker,
(City of Chicago, Appellee). ) Judge, Presiding.
______________________________________________________________________________
JUSTICE HOFFMAN delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
Presiding Justice Holdridge and Justices Hudson, Harris, and Moore concurred in the
judgment and opinion.
OPINION
¶1 The claimant, Anthony Murff, appeals from an order of the circuit court of Cook County
which confirmed a decision of the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission (Commission),
denying his petition pursuant to section 19(h) of the Workers Compensation Act (Act) (820 ILCS
305/19(h) (West 2014)) by reason of his failure to present evidence demonstrating a change in
his physical or mental condition. For the reasons which follow, we affirm the judgment of the
circuit court.
No. 1-16-0005WC
¶2 The following factual recitation is taken from the evidence presented at the arbitration
hearing conducted on December 27, 2013, and at a section 19(h) (820 ILCS 305/19(h) (West
2014)) hearing conducted by the Commission on December 22, 2014.
¶3 The claimant was employed by the City of Chicago (City) as a laborer and worked in its
streets and sanitation department. On January 23, 2009, the claimant was at work, pulling a
heavy garbage container through the snow, when he felt a pop in his left shoulder. Following his
work accident, the claimant sought treatment from Dr. Bush-Joseph and Dr. Phillips who
diagnosed him with a C5-C6 disc herniation "with resultant cervical radiculopathy" and a partial-
thickness rotator cuff tear of the left shoulder with possible radiculopathy. The claimant
underwent a course of medical treatment, including physical therapy, steroid injections, and
cervical spine surgery performed on August 10, 2009. The claimant, however, continued to
experience left-sided neck pain and stiffness, left shoulder pain, and numbness and tingling in the
left hand. Ultimately, on May 14, 2010, Dr. Bush-Joseph released the claimant to light-duty
work with a restriction of no lifting greater than 20 pounds. Dr. Bleier of MercyWorks
Occupational Health, the City's designated medical facility, also determined that restrictions of
no lifting more than 25 pounds and limited use of the left arm were appropriate. According to a
work status note dated June 3, 2010, Dr. Bleier wrote that the City was going to provide the
claimant with a rodent control job as a temporary accommodation.
¶4 On June 8, 2010, the claimant returned to work as a sanitation laborer in the City's rodent
control department. His job duties included "baiting" yards and alleys, which required him to
carry a 10-pound bucket of poison in his right hand and a scooper in his left hand. He testified
that his job title and pay remained the same as when he worked as a garbage man.
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¶5 On August 7, 2011, the claimant was examined by Dr. Chmell, an orthopedic surgeon, at
his attorney's request. In his report, Dr. Chmell opined that the claimant's January 23, 2009,
work accident resulted in his C5-C6 disc herniation and left shoulder rotator cuff tendinopathy
and that the medical treatment he received for these injuries was reasonable and necessary.
Following his examination, Dr. Chmell concluded that the claimant had reached maximum
medical improvement, would always require restrictions, and would never be able to resume
working as a garbage collector.
¶6 At the original arbitration hearing, the claimant testified that he has good and bad days.
He explained that he continues to experience pain in his shoulder, stiffness in his neck, and
numbness and tingling in his hands. The claimant also testified that any overhead activities are
"extremely hard" and he has difficulty getting dressed and applying deodorant to his left side.
He used to be an avid hunter and fisherman, but is no longer able to "sport fish" with a lure. He
also struggles with lifting his grandchildren, gripping pens and pencils, and driving for long
periods of time. Despite these limitations, the claimant stated that he has learned to live with his
condition and is able to function.
¶7 Following the arbitration hearing, the arbitrator issued a written decision on January 22,
2014, finding that the claimant suffered an injury to his cervical spine and left shoulder as a
result of the work accident of January 23, 2009, and that the injury arose out of and in the course
of his employment with the City. The arbitrator awarded the claimant temporary total disability
(TTD) benefits from January 27, 2009, through June 8, 2010, and permanent partial disability
(PPD) benefits in the amount of $664.72 per week for 250 weeks because the cervical spine and
left shoulder injuries resulted in a 50% loss of use of a person as a whole. Neither party filed for
a review of the arbitrator's decision before the Commission. Thus, pursuant to section 19(b) of
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the Act, the arbitrator's decision became the conclusive decision of the Commission. 820 ILCS
305/19(b) (West 2014).
¶8 After the hearing, the claimant continued working for the City as a sanitation laborer in
rodent control. On June 11, 2014, the claimant's supervisor, George Escavez, told him to report
to 39th Street and South Iron Street, which is the City's refuse collection for garbage station. The
claimant went to that location the next day and was informed by Gloria, the superintendent, that
he was assigned to work as a garbage man. When the claimant told Gloria about his work
restrictions, she called and spoke with Escavez in rodent control, and told the claimant that she
did not know why they sent him to the sanitation station. Gloria instructed the claimant to return
to the office for rodent control, which he did. There, Escavez explained to the claimant that he
was supposed to be released to work as a garbage man and, if he could not perform the work, to
swipe out and go home or call the union.
¶9 On June 20, 2014, the claimant filed a petition pursuant to section 19(h) of the Act (820
ILCS 305/19(h) (West 2014)), and section 8(a) of the Act (820 ILCS 305/8(a) (West 2014)),
alleging a material increase in his disability and seeking an award of additional benefits,
including maintenance and vocational rehabilitation based upon a reduction in his earning power.
¶ 10 On July 16, 2014, the claimant requested reasonable accommodations, but was told that
reasonable accommodations could not be made. The claimant was also informed that, because
he had permanent restrictions, the City would probably "never bring him back because they are
not doing that anymore."
¶ 11 At the section 19(h) hearing held before the Commission on December 22, 2014, the
claimant testified that, after he was assigned to work as a garbage man, he contacted his union
but learned that it could not help him. The claimant stated that an effort was made to put him
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back onto workers' compensation, but his request was denied. Instead, he was told he could go
on ordinary disability, which he did.
¶ 12 The claimant further testified that he received no medical treatment for his left shoulder
following the December 27, 2013, arbitration hearing. He also explained that there is nothing
else the doctors can do for his neck, that his condition remains relatively the same, and that his
work restrictions have not changed from when his case was tried at arbitration. He admitted that
he has not returned to Dr. Phillips since July of 2010, and has not undergone any additional
surgery or physical therapy. The claimant also testified that he is not currently working and has
not applied for employment with any other employers.
¶ 13 On April 27, 2015, the Commission denied the claimant's section 19(h) petition. The
Commission found that the term "disability" as used in section 19(h) refers only to physical and
mental disability, not economic disability. Since the claimant failed to present any evidence
demonstrating a material change in his physical or mental condition, the Commission found no
basis to reopen or modify the benefits the claimant was previously awarded. The Commission
also determined that the doctrine of res judicata barred the claimant from seeking maintenance
and vocational rehabilitation benefits because he failed to raise the issue at the arbitration
hearing. Alternatively, even if the maintenance and vocational rehabilitation benefits were
available, the Commission found that the claimant failed to present sufficient evidence
establishing his entitlement to those benefits.
¶ 14 The claimant sought a judicial review of the Commission's decision in the circuit court of
Cook County. On December 17, 2015, the circuit court confirmed the Commission's decision,
and this appeal followed.
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¶ 15 We first address the claimant's argument that the Commission erred in finding that the
term "disability" in section 19(h) of the Act refers only to physical and mental disability, not
economic disability.
¶ 16 Initially, we note that the resolution of this issue requires this court to interpret section
19(h) of the Act, which presents a question of law that we review de novo. R.D. Masonry, Inc. v.
Industrial Comm'n, 215 Ill. 2d 397, 402 (2005). In construing the Act, our primary goal is to
ascertain and give effect to the intent of the legislature. Beelman Trucking v. Illinois Workers'
Compensation Comm'n, 233 Ill. 2d 364, 370 (2009). The best indication of legislative intent is
the statutory language, given its plain and ordinary meaning. Id. "We must construe the statute
so that each word, clause, and sentence is given a reasonable meaning and not rendered
superfluous, avoiding an interpretation that would render any portion of the statute meaningless
or void." Cassens Transport Co. v. Industrial Comm'n, 218 Ill. 2d 519, 524 (2006). In addition
to the statutory language, courts also interpret the Act liberally to effectuate its purpose:
providing financial protection to injured workers. Beelman Trucking, 233 Ill. 2d at 371. In light
of these principles, we turn to the statutory provisions at issue.
¶ 17 Section 19(h) provides, in relevant part, as follows:
"[A]s to accidents occurring subsequent to July 1, 1955, which are covered by any
agreement or award under this Act providing for compensation in installments
made as a result of such accident, such agreement or award may at any time
within 30 months, or 60 months in the case of an award under Section 8(d)1, after
such agreement or award be reviewed by the Commission at the request of either
the employer or the employee on the ground that the disability of the employee
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has subsequently recurred, increased, diminished, or ended." 820 ILCS 305/19(h)
(West 2014).
¶ 18 The parties dispute the meaning of "disability" as used in section 19(h). The City
contends that the term "disability" refers only to physical and mental disability, while the
claimant maintains that it also encompasses economic disability. The Commission rejected the
claimant's interpretation, relying on Petrie v. Industrial Comm'n, 160 Ill. App. 3d 165 (1987).
¶ 19 In Petrie, 160 Ill. App. 3d at 168, the claimant sustained injuries to his right index and
middle fingers. At arbitration, the claimant requested an award for impaired earning capacity
under section 8(d)(1), but was awarded an amount for percentage of loss of man as a whole
under section 8(d)(2) of the Act. Thereafter, the claimant filed a petition for review under
section 19(h) seeking additional compensation for impairment of earning capacity. At the
hearing, the claimant testified that it took him three to four times longer to accomplish the same
job and that his gross earnings had diminished. The Commission denied the claimant's section
19(h) petition, finding that there had been no medical evidence of change in his physical
condition or evidence of change in circumstances since the time of arbitration. Id.
¶ 20 On appeal, the claimant in Petrie argued that he was "entitled to a more accurate award
calculation for his physical disability, based on [an] increase in economic disability." Id. at 170.
In rejecting this argument, this court noted that a review of the Act showed that "when the
legislature used the term 'disability' in section 19(h) it was referring to physical and mental
disability and not economic disability." Id. at 171. We explained:
"This intent is evident by reference to the following sections: section 1(b)(3)
refers to an employee's 'cause of action by reason of any injury, disablement or
death ***'; section 8(d)(1) states that an injured employee who 'becomes partially
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incapacitated from pursuing his usual and customary line of employment ***
shall *** receive compensation for the duration of his disability ***'; section
8(d)(2) refers to injuries which 'disable [the employee] from pursuing other
suitable occupations'; and section 12 provides that an injured employee must
submit to a physical examination on request of the employer for the purpose of
determining the nature, extent, and duration of the injury and for the purpose of
determining the amount of compensation due 'for disability.' [Citations.] On the
other hand, when the legislature intended to refer to something other than physical
and mental disability, it used different or additional language: sections 6(c)(1)
and 8(h-1) refer to 'legal disability'; and section 8(d)(2) refers to 'impairment of
earning capacity.' [Citation.]" Id. at 171-72.
Accordingly, we held that an increase in economic disability alone is not a proper basis for
modification of an award pursuant to section 19(h) of the Act; rather, the claimant must present
evidence establishing that his physical or mental condition has changed. Id.
¶ 21 Based upon the holding in Petrie, we conclude that the Commission did not err in finding
that the term "disability" as used in section 19(h) of the Act, refers to physical and mental
disabilities, not economic disabilities. See also United Airlines v. Workers' Comp. Comm'n, 407
Ill. App. 3d 467, 471 (2011) (noting that a change in economic circumstances is not a proper
basis for modification of an award pursuant to section 19(h)); Cassens Transport Co. v.
Industrial Comm'n, 354 Ill. App. 3d 807, 810 (2005) (the term "disability" in section 8(d)(1)
refers to physical and mental disability).
¶ 22 Having found that the term "disability" in section 19(h) refers to physical and mental
disability, we next consider whether the claimant's disability has "recurred, increased, diminished
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or ended" since the time of the original award. Gay v. Industrial Comm'n, 178 Ill. App. 3d 129,
132 (1989). "To warrant a change in benefits, the change in a [claimant's] disability must be
material." Id. In reviewing a section 19(h) petition, the evidence presented in the original
proceeding must be considered to determine if the claimant's position has changed materially
since the time of the original decision. Id. Whether there has been a material change in a
claimant's disability is an issue of fact, and the Commission's determination will not be
overturned unless it is contrary to the manifest weight of the evidence. Id. For a finding of fact
to be contrary to the weight of the evidence, an opposite conclusion must be clearly apparent.
Caterpillar, Inc. v. Industrial Comm'n, 228 Ill. App. 3d 288, 291 (1992).
¶ 23 Here, we cannot find that an opposite conclusion from the Commission's is clearly
apparent from the record. In its decision, the Commission pointed out that the claimant testified
that his physical disability has been the same since the original arbitration hearing, that he has
not sought any medical treatment since that time, and that he is under the same work restrictions.
We also note that the claimant did not provide any evidence that there was a mental component
to his claim or that his mental condition had changed whatsoever. The claimant's sole argument
is that the City's refusal to offer him work within his restrictions has resulted in economic
injuries. However, as we explained above, economic injuries do not fall within the ambit of the
term "disability" as used in section 19(h). Because there is evidence in the record to support the
Commission's finding that the claimant failed to prove that his physical or mental condition
substantially and materially changed after the original arbitration hearing, we find that an
opposite conclusion is not clearly apparent.
¶ 24 We next address the claimant's contention that the Commission erred in failing to award
him maintenance and vocational rehabilitation benefits under section 8(a) of the Act (820 ILCS
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305/8(a) (West 2014)). In his brief before this court, the claimant acknowledges that he cannot
find any cases where maintenance and vocational rehabilitation benefits were available after a
final award. He argues, however, that these benefits, like medical expenses, should remain
available even after the entry of a final award.
¶ 25 The question of whether section 8(a) allows a claimant to seek maintenance and
vocational rehabilitation benefits after a final award is a matter of statutory construction, which
is a question of law. Issues of law are considered de novo on review without deference to the
Commission's determination. Elliott v. Industrial Comm'n, 303 Ill. App. 3d 185, 187 (1999).
Therefore, we review de novo whether section 8(a) allows a claimant to seek maintenance and
vocational rehabilitation benefits after a final award.
¶ 26 Our supreme court has stated that the Commission is an administrative agency, lacking
general or common law powers. Cassens, 218 Ill. 2d at 525. As a consequence, its powers are
limited to those granted by the legislature and any action taken by the Commission must be
specifically authorized by statute. Id. "An act that is unauthorized is beyond the scope of the
agency's jurisdiction." Id.¶ 27 As stated, the claimant argues that section 8(a) of the Act gives the Commission the
authority to consider and address his request for maintenance and vocational rehabilitation
benefits. Section 8(a) states, in relevant part, that an employer "shall *** pay for treatment,
instruction and training necessary for the physical, mental and vocational rehabilitation of the
employee, including all maintenance costs and expenses incidental thereto." 820 ILCS 305/8(a)
(West 2014). However, we find that, while section 8(a) provides general authorization for the
Commission to award maintenance and vocational rehabilitation benefits, it does not authorize
the Commission to award these benefits after a final decision has been entered. That is, contrary
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to the claimant's assertions, section 8(a) contains no specific language authorizing the claimant to
file a petition seeking a modification of a final award, nor does it permit the Commission to
address the issue of maintenance and vocational rehabilitation at any time and in any manner
presented by the parties. Rather, the Commission's actions must be specifically and expressly
provided for by the Act.
¶ 28 Section 19 of the Act (820 ILCS 305/19 (West 2014)) provides specific procedures for
determining "[a]ny disputed questions of law or fact." Under that section, an arbitrator's decision
becomes the conclusive decision of the Commission "[u]nless a petition for review is filed by
either party within 30 days after the receipt" of the arbitrator's decision. 820 ILCS 305/19(b)
(West 2014). "[T]he Commission may modify a conclusive decision only where the Act
specifically authorizes it to do so." Cassens, 218 Ill. 2d at 525.
¶ 29 In Cassens, 218 Ill. 2d at 525, our supreme court discussed the limited circumstances
under which the Act authorizes the Commission to modify or reopen a final award. In particular,
the court noted that section 19(f) allows modifications to correct clerical errors, section 19(h)
permits the Commission to reopen an installment award for a limited time, and section 8(f)
allows the reassessment of any award for total and permanent disability. Id. at 526-27 (quoting
820 ILCS 305/19(f), 19(h), 8(f) (West 2002)). In finding that another section of the Act did not
authorize the Commission to reopen a final award, the court noted as follows with respect to the
aforementioned sections of the Act:
"Each of these provisions includes language that is tailored to authorize a review
proceeding. Section 19(f) specifically gives the arbitrator and Commission the
power to recall an award. Section 19(h) allows either party to petition for review
of an installment award within 30 months of its issuance. Section 8(f) indicates
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that employers may cease payments when a totally and permanently disabled
employee returns to the workforce, giving the employee authorization to petition
the Commission for a review of the award. The plain language of each section
alerts employers and employees to when review may be had and how to obtain it."
Id. at 527.
¶ 30 Here, the arbitrator issued her decision on January 22, 2014. Since neither party filed a
petition for review of that decision, it became the conclusive decision of the Commission on
February 22, 2014. In this case, none of the circumstances set forth in Cassens under which a
conclusive decision of the Commission may be modified or reopened exists. Contrary to the
claimant's assertions, section 8(a) does not contain any specific language authorizing a party to
file a petition for review of a final award, as section 19(h) does. It does not authorize the
Commission to recall an award, as section 19(f) does. Nor does it authorize a claimant to
petition for review, as section 8(f) does. It would be inappropriate for us to read one of these
procedures into section 8(a) when the legislature has included none of them in that section.
Reading the Act as a whole, and following the reasoning in Cassens, we hold that section 8(a)
does not authorize the Commission to address the issues of maintenance and vocational
rehabilitation at any time after it has issued its final decision. Were we to adopt the claimant's
position that section 8(a) allows the Commission to award maintenance and vocational
rehabilitation benefits at any time, we would essentially render meaningless the requirements in
section 19(h) that the claimant's disability "recurred, increased, diminished or ended" since the
time of the original award. See Cassens, 228 Ill. 2d at 524 (when interpreting a statute, a court
must avoid an interpretation that would render any portion of the statute meaningless or void).
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Thus, the Commission does not have jurisdiction under section 8(a) to modify or reopen the
claimant's final award.
¶ 31 In so holding, we note that we agree with the claimant's assertion that maintenance and
vocational rehabilitation benefits may be available under section 19(h). As this court stated in
Curtis v. Illinois Worker's Compensation Comm'n, 2013 IL App (1st) 120976WC, ¶ 15, "when
section 19(h) is read as a whole, it is clear that the legislature did not intend to limit the scope of
section 19(h) to only permanency benefits. Rather, the statute was meant to cover TTD benefits
as well." As a consequence, in order for the claimant to obtain maintenance and vocational
rehabilitation benefits after a final award, he must satisfy the preliminary requirements of section
19(h) by showing a substantial and material change in his disability. However, as we already
discussed, the claimant failed to make this showing.
¶ 32 Finally, the claimant urges this court to interpret the Act as broadly as possible, given that
it is a remedial statute intended to provide financial protection for injured workers. See Flynn v.
Industrial Comm'n, 211 Ill. 2d 546, 556 (2004). According to the claimant, to deny maintenance
and vocational rehabilitation benefits following a period of reduced earning capacity would
frustrate the purpose of the Act. However, as noted above, adopting the claimant's position
would require us to read section 19(h) out of the Act. While the result we reach may appear
harsh to the claimant, we believe that it is a concern better addressed to the legislature.
¶ 33 In sum, because the claimant failed to show a material change in his physical or mental
condition since the arbitrator's January 22, 2014, decision, the Commission properly denied his
request for additional benefits under section 19(h) of the Act. We, therefore, affirm the judgment
of the circuit court which confirmed the Commission's decision.
¶ 34 Affirmed.
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