In two related and consolidated appeals, the appellate court considered whether an administrative hearing officer correctly concluded that the plaintiff’s former employee had a disability that was the result of injuries sustained while responding to emergencies under the Public Safety Employee Benefits Act and that the plaintiff had an obligation to pay the employee’s health insurance premiums when the injury was declared catastrophic. The employee also appealed from a determination of the hearing officer that the Village was not required to reimburse him for premiums paid after the Village stopped paying the premiums. The appellate court affirmed the hearing officer’s conclusion that the employee’s catastrophic disability qualified him for benefits under the Act and that the Village’s obligation attached when the injury was declared catastrophic. The appellate court also reversed the hearing officer’s conclusion that the Village had no obligation to pay the health insurance premiums. (MIKVA and LYLE, concurring)
Illinois Appellate Court
Civil Court
Administrative Review