Brais v. The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission

Employee, a child support coordinator in county courthouse, sustained left wrist fracture when her heel caught in a defect in sidewalk and she fell filed claim for workers compensation benefits for injury to wrist. Fall occurred when employee was walking from work-related meeting at administration building to her office, to enter through front door of courthouse, which was only means of access at time of accident. Employee took this route daily and even though general public used it as well and faced same hazard of defective sidewalk, special hazard became part of her employment, and given her work requirement that she attend meetings at administration building, her risk of injury on sidewalk was greater than for general public. Thus, injury arose out of her employment. (HOLDRIDGE, HOFFMAN, and HUDSON, concurring; HARRIS, specially concurring.)