Case Name: Robert Robinson, Claimant, vs. State of Illinois, Respondent
Court: Illinois Court of Claims
Jurisdiction: Illinois
Decision Date: 1945-01-09
Citations: 14 Ill. Ct. Cl. 87
Docket Number: No. 3867
Parties: Robert Robinson, Claimant, vs. State of Illinois, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Illinois Court of Claims Reports
Volume: 14
Pages: 87–89

Head Matter:
(No. 3867
Robert Robinson, Claimant, vs. State of Illinois, Respondent.
Opinion filed January 9, 1945.
Louis N. Blumenthal, for claimant.
George F. Barrett, Attorney General; William L. Morgan, Assistant Attorney General, for respondent.

Opinion:
Fisher, J.
TMs claim was filed July 14, 1944, and the record completed October 30, 1944.
The record consists of the Statement of Claim, Transcript of Evidence, Departmental Report, Stipulation, and Waiver of Statement, Brief and Argument by Claimant and Respondent.
Claimant alleges that on July 19, 1943, he was employed at the. Chicago State Hospital by the Department of Public Welfare, State of Illinois, as an attendant; that on said date claimant was injured by reason of an accident arising out of and in the course of his employment; that while in the performance of his duties he slipped and' fell, and thereby sustained a colles fracture of his left arm, resulting in permanent injury to. the extent of 25% permanent loss of the use of said arm.
Claimant asks for compensation for total temporary disability from July 19, 1943, until February 9, 1944, and compensation for permanent impairment of the loss of use of Ms left arm. Claimant received medical care and Ms salary for the months of July and August of 1943.
The period in which claimant was totally disabled is not clear from the record. The oMy evidence bearing on this point is the question asked of claimant—
"Q. You were totally unemployed from the time of the accident until when,
A. February 9th.".
The Departmental Report states:
"This employee was off duty from July 19th to August 19th because of a duty connected injury for which he was paid $105.00. He then received a paid vacation from August 19th to September 1st inclusive. A Leave of Absence was granted him from September 2nd to October 4th inclusive. He was then on duty from October 5th to October 9th inclusive and he resigned on October 10th."
From tMs evidence, it does not appear when claimant was physically able to resume his duties, and in the absence of such proof, no award for claimant's total disability can be made.
Claimant was examined by Dr. George N. Beecher and Dr. Benjamin Cohen, who testified that claimant sustained a colies fracture of the left wrist, wMch fracture resulted in the loss of the functional use of claimant's left forearm in flexion, supination and rotation to the extent of approximately 25% of said extremity, and that, based upon the various x-rays, examination, treatment and reasonable medical certainty, said disability is permanent.
No jurisdictional question is involved, and claimant is entitled to the benefits of the Workmen's Compensation Act. Section 8, Paragraph E provides for the loss of an arm or the permanent and complete loss of its use, 50% of the average weekly wage during 225 weeks.
Claimant is, therefore, entitled to compensation for 25% permanent loss of the use of his left arm, or $14.23 for 5614 weeks. Claimant's average weekly wage at the time of the injury was $24.23, 50% of which is $12.11, increased 17%% (Sec. 8, Par. M), or a total of $14.23. Claimant is entitled to have and receive from respondent compensation for 56% weeks at $14.23 per week, or a total of $800.44.
An award is therefore entered in favor of claimant, Robert Robinson, in the sum of $800.44, all of which is accrued and is payable forthwith.
This award is subject to the approval of the Governor as provided in Section 3 of "An Act concerning the payment of compensation awards to State employees. ' '