Moran v. Illinois Workers’ Compensation Comm’n

Illinois Appellate Court
Civil Court
Workers' Compensation
Citation
Case Number: 
2016 IL App (1st) 151366WC
Decision Date: 
Friday, July 29, 2016
District: 
1st Dist.
Division/County: 
Cook Co., WC Div.
Holding: 
Reversed and remanded.
Justice: 
STEWART

Village fire department lieutenant/paramedic filed workers' compensation claim for PTSD allegedly caused by work-related incident. Physician testified that, within a reasonable degree of medical and psychiatric certainty, the claimant's PTSD was caused by trauma of incident when  witnessed a firefighter on Claimant's crew immediately after he suffered work-related death. Employer's actions after fire indicate that it believed that crew suffered sudden, severe, emotional shock of greater dimensions than emotional strain and tension all employees experience from worry, anxiety, pressure and overwork. Claimant's psychological injuries stemmed from single, traumatic event and he is entitled to workers compensation benefits. (HOLDRIDGE, HOFFMAN, HUDSON, and HARRIS, concurring.)