Court Opinion

ID: 6984678
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 02:50:25.497299+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:09:22.848222
License: Public Domain

JUSTICE CLARK delivered the opinion of the court: On April 1, 1977, Merle E. Roberts brought this action before the Industrial Commission pursuant to section 19(h) of the Workmen’s Compensation Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1975, ch. 48, par. 138.19(h)) seeking recovery for an alleged increased disability resulting from a prior industrial accident. The Industrial Commission dismissed the action for want of prosecution. The petitioner appealed the decision of the Industrial Commission to the circuit court of Cook County, which affirmed the dismissal. The petitioner then appealed directly to this court (87 Ill. 2d R. 302(a)). On December 18, 1979, the case was called by Commissioner Duncan and no one appeared on behalf of either side. The transcript shows that Commissioner Duncan said that because the case had been continued many times before, and since he had previously stated that there would be no more continuances, he was going to dismiss the case with prejudice. In proceedings before the Industrial Commission to vacate dismissals for want of prosecution and to reinstate claims, the burden is on the petitioner to allege and prove facts in order to justify reinstatement. It is within the sound discretion of the Commission to grant or deny reinstatement. Cranfield v. Industrial Com. (1980), 78 Ill. 2d 251, 255; Shiffer v. Industrial Com. (1973), 53 Ill. 2d 519, 521. Mr. Roberts asserts that the Commission abused its discretion in dismissing the petition because petitioner alleges that notices were not sent to the parties advising them of the hearing date and that counsel was unaware that a hearing was scheduled on December 18, 1979. The order of the Industrial Commission dismissing the section 19(h) petition was entered on December 24, 1979. The order recites on its face that “due notice given this cause came on for hearing before the Commission on December 18, 1979.” The petitioner asserts that he has met his burden of proof to justify vacating the Industrial Commission order that dismissed the action for want of prosecution, by demonstrating that no one appeared on behalf of either side on December 18, 1979. The evidence presented, that neither party appeared, does not prove that proper notice was not given. According to the Industrial Commission order of December 24, 1979, proper notice was given. We therefore find that the dismissal of the claim represented a proper and sound exercise of discretion by the Industrial Commission. The judgment of the circuit court of Cook County is affirmed. Judgment affirmed.