Court Opinion

ID: 9529156
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 03:48:05.109844+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:27:41.787499
License: Public Domain

JUSTICE McCULLOUGH, dissenting: The decision of the Industrial Commission is not against the manifest weight of the evidence. It is the function of the Industrial Commission to judge the credibility of the witnesses. (Watts v. Industrial Com. (1979), 77 Ill. 2d 30, 394 N.E.2d 1171.) As stated in Branch v. Industrial Com. (1983), 95 Ill. 2d 268, 272, 447 N.E.2d 828, 829, “There is sufficient evidence to support the decision of the Industrial Commission that the petitioner failed to prove he sustained an accidental injury arising out of and in the course of his employment and, therefore, the Commission’s decision was not against the manifest weight of the evidence.” In the instant case, the credibility of the witnesses was an important factor in determination of the merits of the claim. The employee indicated that he told Dr. Schrodt that he had not done anything to hurt himself; he filed claims with respect to insurance and in answer to a question as to whether it was an accidental injury, he stated “No.” In fact, he indicated on two different occasions that there was no known injury. The Industrial Commission had the prerogative to believe the witnesses. The father’s testimony that he had informed the company of the alleged accident is not verified by the records of the company or of Dr. Schrodt which clearly indicate to the contrary. The business records of the personnel department of the company do not show a report of an accident. The fact finder is in a prime position to determine the credibility of the witnesses. The Industrial Commission’s decision should not be reversed if there is evidence supporting its decision and its decision is not against the manifest weight of the evidence. Branch v. Industrial Com. (1983), 95 Ill. 2d 268, 447 N.E.2d 828. The majority cites Sohio Pipe Line Co. v. Industrial Com. (1976), 63 Ill. 2d 147, 345 N.E.2d 468. It should be noted that in Sohio the supreme court did not reverse the decision of the Industrial Commission but in fact affirmed the Industrial Commission. The Sohio court stated at page 152 that “when the facts are susceptible of more than one interpretation, the inference drawn by the Commission will not be disturbed on review unless it is contrary to the manifest weight of the evidence.” The decision of the Industrial Commission should be affirmed. McNAMARA, J., joins in this dissent.