The Venture-Newberg Perini Stone & Webster v. Ill. Worker’s Compensation Commission

This case presents question as to whether trial court properly set aside Commission’s determination that claimant was entitled to Workers’ Compensation benefits arising out of his accident, which occurred while claimant was riding in vehicle from his motel to jobsite. Appellate Court, in reversing trial court and reinstating Commission's award, found that claimant’s injuries were compensable under Workers’ Compensation Act since claimant met requirements of traveling-employee exception where claimant was assigned to jobsite that was not employer’s premises, but rather was premises of client of employer. Dissent, as well as employer in its petition for leave to appeal, argued that claimant’s assigned location became employer’s premises (so as to preclude claimant from qualifying for traveling-employee exception) under circumstances where, as here, claimant was hired only on temporary basis and was assigned only to work at one specific jobsite for duration of his employment.