Court Opinion

ID: 9860822
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 23:33:22.369214+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:26:44.747292
License: Public Domain

PRESIDING JUSTICE BARRY, specially concurring: I agree with my colleagues’ determination that petitioner’s failure to comply with section 19(f)(1) of the Workers’ Compensation Act mandates an affirmance of the circuit court’s disposition here. The facts presented in this case fall far short of the “unique circumstances” that inspired my dissent in Fortson v. Industrial Comm’n (1989), 184 Ill. App. 3d 794, 540 N.E.2d 815. In Fortson, it was clear that petitioner had made bona fide efforts to timely comply with sections 19 and 20, but was thwarted in her efforts by circumstances outside her control. By contrast, the exception petitioner Beasley seeks to establish would effectively obviate the 20-day jurisdictional limitation, as noted by the majority in this case. In my opinion, this court’s resolution of the jurisdictional question amply disposes of the appeal. The majority’s gratuitous comments thereafter upon the merits of the Commission’s original decision to deny compensation are pure obiter dieta to which I do not subscribe.