Pearson v. Stedge, No. Appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook County Honorable John G. Laurie, Judge Presiding. Following a settlement of the suit, plaintiff filed a motion to adjudicate a medical pay lien that had been filed by his automobile insurer, Illinois Farmers Insurance Company. The circuit court ruled in favor of plaintiff, finding that the automobile insurance policy Pearson had with Farmers did not create a subrogation lien for medical expenses Farmers had paid to Pearson.
Farmers now appeals, contending that the circuit court's ruling was in error.
Plaintiff Samuel Pearson sustained injuries as a result of his involvement in a car accident with defendant Tanya Stedge on December 2, 1993. Pursuant to the policy, Farmers made payments to Pearson to cover the costs of Pearson's medical treatment. In January 1994, Pearson filed a personal injury action against Stedge, seeking compensation for injuries he had received, loss of income, and his medical costs. The court stated, in its order dismissing the case, that it retained jurisdiction to adjudicate any entitlement to a lien on the settlement amount. In June 1998, Pearson filed a motion to adjudicate a medical pay lien Farmers had filed against the settlement proceeds.