The Illinois Supreme Court has ruled that an employee’s injuries from common everyday activities, such as bending, kneeling, and reaching, are compensable under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act if the employee might reasonably be expected to perform those actions incidental to their assigned duties. The case is McAllister v. Illinois Workers’ Comp. Commission, 2020 IL 124848.
Kevin McAllister, the claimant, injured his right knee while he was working as a sous-chef at North Pond restaurant in Illinois. His job required him to check in orders, arrange the walk-in cooler, and preparing and cooking food. On the date of the accident, McAllister was setting his station for the evening shift when a co-worker mentioned that he had misplaced a pan of carrots in the walk-in. In looking for the missing carrots, that could have been located on the bottom shelf, McAllister knelt down on the floor of the walk-in. When standing up from the kneeling position, McAllister felt his knee pop, the knee locked up and he could not straighten it. He discussed the injury with his boss, the general manager drove him to the hospital. He did not receive workers’ compensation benefits while he was off work after the injury from August 7, 2014, until he was released to work on September 15, 2014.
Already have an account? Sign In Now
For enterprise-wide or corporate access, please contact our Sales Department at 1-800-543-0874 or email [email protected].
Copyright © 2024 ALM Global, LLC. All Rights Reserved.