Court Opinion

ID: 9706943
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 01:56:08.109597+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:22:26.158273
License: Public Domain

JUSTICE DONOVAN, concurring in part and dissenting in part: I concur in the majority’s analysis of the issues of injurious practice and causation, but I cannot concur in the majority’s decision to reverse the Commission’s decision to impose penalties and fees. The majority quite rightly determined that claimant’s cigarette smoking constitutes neither an intervening cause that would relieve respondent from liability nor an injurious practice under section 19(d) of the Act (820 ILCS 305/19(d) (West 2004)). Given that, Dr. Mather’s opinions, which were offered in support of a position or theory that has no basis in existing law, are inconsequential. The respondent has failed to establish reasonable legal support for its decision to terminate TTD benefits and to deny medical expenses. Denying benefits without a legal basis is certainly unreasonable. The Commission’s decision to impose penalties and fees is not against the manifest weight of the evidence. Accordingly, I would affirm the circuit court’s decision to confirm the decision of the Commission in its entirety.