Illinois Supreme Court
Civil Court
Punitive Damages
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.)