Case Name: Birda Towns, as wife of Jimmie C. Towns, deceased, Claimant, vs. State of Illinois, Respondent
Court: Illinois Court of Claims
Jurisdiction: Illinois
Decision Date: 1972-06-13
Citations: 27 Ill. Ct. Cl. 445
Docket Number: No. 00010
Parties: Birda Towns, as wife of Jimmie C. Towns, deceased, Claimant, vs. State of Illinois, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Illinois Court of Claims Reports
Volume: 27
Pages: 445–446

Head Matter:
(No. 00010
Birda Towns, as wife of Jimmie C. Towns, deceased, Claimant, vs. State of Illinois, Respondent.
Opinion filed June 13, 1972.
Birda Towns, Claimant, pro se.
William J. Scott, Attorney General; Saul R. Wexler, Assistant Attorney General, and Vincent Biskupic, Special Assistant Attorney General, for Respondent.

Opinion:
Perlin, C.J.
This claim was filed pursuant to Ch. 48, Sec. 281, Ill.Rev.Stat., 1971, "Law Enforcement Officers and Firemen Compensation Act". The Court is in receipt of the Application for Benefits and Statement of Supervising Officer, as well as an investigative report by the Illinois Attorney General's office. Based upon these documents the Court finds as follows:
That the claimant, Birda Towns, is the wife of the decedent and is the named beneficiary under the Application for Benefits. That the decedent, Jimmie C. Towns, was a patrolman for the Village of Brooklyn, engaged in the scope of duty on December 18,1971, within the meaning of Section 282 of the aforecited act. On said date he suffered gunshot wounds in his back and chest resulting in his death. The Court further finds that the Attorney General's office in its investigation has determined that this claim is within the scope of the above cited statutes:
"Section 282 (o) 'killed in the line of duty' means losing one's life as a result of injur)- received in the active performance of duties as a law enforcement officer or fireman if the death occurs within one year from the date the injur)' was received and if that injury arose from violence or other accidental cause. . .
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the sum of $10,000.00 (TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS) be, and the same hereby is, granted to Birda Towns as wife and next of kin of the decedent, Jimmie C. Towns.