Case Name: Martha Zehr, as wife of Harry Zehr, deceased, Claimant, vs. State of Illinois, Respondent
Court: Illinois Court of Claims
Jurisdiction: Illinois
Decision Date: 1972-06-13
Citations: 28 Ill. Ct. Cl. 396
Docket Number: No. 00013
Parties: Martha Zehr, as wife of Harry Zehr, deceased, Claimant, vs. State of Illinois, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Illinois Court of Claims Reports
Volume: 28
Pages: 396–397

Head Matter:
(No. 00013
Martha Zehr, as wife of Harry Zehr, deceased, Claimant, vs. State of Illinois, Respondent.
Opinion filed June 13, 1972.
Martha Zehr, 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 et seq., 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, Martha Zehr, is the wife of the decedent and is the named beneficiary under the Application for Benefits. That the decedent, Harry Zehr, was a policeman with the City of Fairbury, engaged in the scope of duty on October 11, 1971, within the meaning of Section 282 of the aforecited act. On said date he was injured when the police car he was driving was struck by a semi-trailer. Officer Zehr underwent brain surgery and died on February 19, 1972 as a result of cranio-cerebral injuries. 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 (e) 'killed in the line of duty' means losing one's life as a result of injury 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 injury 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 Martha Zehr, as wife and next of kin of the decedent, Harry Zehr.