Omron Electronics v. The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission

Illinois Appellate Court
Civil Court
Workers' Compensation
Citation
Case Number: 
2014 IL App (1st) 130766WC
Decision Date: 
Friday, November 14, 2014
District: 
1st Dist.
Division/County: 
Cook Co., WC Div.
Holding: 
Affirmed.
Justice: 
STEWART
Widow filed claim for benefits, under Occupational Diseases Act and Workers' Compensation Act, for death of employee, President and COO of company, due to alleged exposure to Neisseria meningitides, resulting in bacterial meningitis, while on business trip to Brazil, where he had stayed for one full day. Commission found opinions of two physicians, who testified as to prevalence of meningitis in Brazil and incubation period, were more persuasive than employer's two expert physicians, who testified that it iwas impossible to determine whether he was exposed before or during trip to Brazil. Commission awarded death benefits, burial expenses, and reasonable medical expenses. Commission's function is to judge credibility and resolve conflicts in medical opinion evidence, and decision was not against weight of evidence. (HOLDRIDGE, HOFFMAN, HUDSON, and HARRIS, concurring.)