Court Opinion

ID: 9524159
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 02:50:23.954137+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:08:59.355995
License: Public Domain

PRESIDING JUSTICE McCULLOUGH, specially concurring: With considerable reluctance, I concur. The Commission in its decision, paragraph 7, “found” claimant returned to his part-time position as a bus driver with the YMCA, but the return to that work did not terminate his right to temporary total disability. The Commission further found that the “respondent is entitled to a credit for any wages earned subsequent to July 8, 1999, at the YMCA against the temporary total disability benefits.” However, the Commission’s order stated “that Respondent shall pay to Petitioner the sum of $343.00 per week for a period of 521/7 weeks.” The order did not mention any credit. Likewise, the circuit court’s order does not mention any credit but simply ordered “entitlement to TTD *** confirmed.” The Commission’s finding as to credit is further complicated, as suggested by the dissenting commissioner, “no one can tell how much the credit is.” If we are to approve awards of TTD in cases similar to the factual scenario here, it would be worthwhile for the legislature to provide for credit. Presently section 8(b)(1) of the Act states the compensation rate for temporary total disability shall be equal to 662/s% of the employee’s average weekly wage. There is no mention of credit against that amount. Although I do not dissent, I urge the Commission and this court be wary of completely eroding the word “total” in “temporary total disability.”