Crittenden v. The Cook County Commission on Human Rights

Illinois Supreme Court
Civil Court
Punitive Damages
Citation
Case Number: 
2013 IL 114876
Decision Date: 
Thursday, June 20, 2013
District: 
1st Dist.
Division/County: 
Cook Co.
Holding: 
Appellate court affirmed.
Justice: 
GARMAN
Female bartender filed sexual harassment complaint against her employer under Cook County Human Rights Ordinance. Cook County Commission on Human Rights entered decision awarding lost wages, compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorney fees and costs. Commission, as an administrative agency, lacks common law powers, and is without authority to award common law punitive damages absent express authority. Neither Illinois Human Rights Act nor Ordinance provides Commission with express authority to award punitive damages. .(KILBRIDE, FREEMAN, THOMAS, KARMEIER, BURKER, and THEIS, concurring.)