Court Opinion

ID: 9725397
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 11:45:26.611793+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:25:14.868501
License: Public Domain

PRESIDING JUSTICE BARRY, specially concurring: I concur with the majority that the Commission’s decision is not contrary to the manifest weight of the evidence. The majority’s opinion is confusing, however, regarding the proper standard of review to be applied when the Commission overturns the arbitrator without hearing new evidence. The simple rule is that the Commission’s decision will not be overturned unless it is against the manifest weight of the evidence; but when no new evidence is introduced, reviewing courts will apply an extra degree of scrutiny in making this determination. (Cook v. Industrial Comm’n (1988), 176 Ill. App. 3d 545, 531 N.E.2d 379.) This standard applies whether the issue on review relates to an injury or to a claimant’s paternity. Applied here, as the majority correctly notes, the circuit court’s decision confirming the Commission’s determination should be affirmed.