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Morning Shorts
Wednesday, Mar 2, 2011 - Posted by Rich Miller * Attorney general calls for fraud investigation into Menard worker’s ‘total disability’ claim: On the same day the state sent Menard Correctional Center Lt. Jay K. Ziegler a temporary “total disability” check for $2,092, he was in his boat on Carlyle Lake helping the Murphysboro High School Red Devils bass fishing team at the state finals in May. * Cook County law aimed at tax lawyers questioned: A Cook County ordinance aimed at Assessor Joe Berrios and the piles of money that tax attorneys threw at him during last year’s assessor’s race may be unconstitutional. That’s the opinion of the state’s attorney’s office, which in a Feb. 8 memo says campaign donation limits are a matter of state law, and the county ordinance “violates the separation of powers doctrine established in … the Illinois Constitution.“ * Lawyers warned their Berrios contributions could be illegal * Foreman: Deadlocked Blago jurors held ‘reunion’: He says a lone holdout juror who prevented conviction on several serious charges helped organize the union but, at the last minute, wasn’t able to attend. * Gas prices here break $4 * Immigration crackdown nets 678 arrests, including 14 in Chicago area * State’s universities urged to partner for more research funding - U. of I. board chief Kennedy calls for more cooperation with businesses and politicians * Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis quits; Terry Hillard returns * Agency says it has no file on 2000 complaint about doctor - Physician now seeks to have court records of another incident sealed * Groupon sued over deal expiration dates * 3 Kirkland & Ellis partners leave for Latham & Watkins - Robert Buday, Nathaniel Marrs and Gary Axelrod, who represent clients in complex real estate transactions, are highly regarded by lawyer-rating services * Melissa Bean named CEO of Chicago Executives’ Club * Illinois circuit judges must undergo evaluations * Group says insurance caps will help Illinoisans * Illinois Looks To Pass Romeo & Juliet Law * Is tanning bad for teens? * Proposed SEC changes could have chilling effect on board volunteerism * Gun shop in Marion must either close or relocate * Zorn: When will Mt. Rahm blow? Never: It’s not his way. It’s never been his way. Book it. * Student successfully pitches idea to Rahm Emanuel * Emanuel to meet with MayorEmanuel tweeter * Miguel del Valle Starting New Community Action Group * Emanuel inaugural bash in hands of donors, community leaders * Ex-Obama social secretary on inaugural committee * Food for thought in Elgin race * Journalism program a study of perceptions * Complex Sheehan Syndrome leaves editor fighting for her life
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- Leave a light on George - Wednesday, Mar 2, 11 @ 9:37 am:
This workman comp issue is starting to snowball. I’ m guessing it is going to be a major,major scandal before it is all done.
8 out of 32 w/c arbitrators file their own claims. 25% of the work force is injured!!? Heck that rivals if not exceeds the injury rate for starting QB’s in the NFL
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Mar 2, 11 @ 9:46 am:
Weis got out of Dodge in a hurry. If Daley wanted him to stay through his term, I wonder why he wouldn’t put it in writing?
- 3rd Generation Chicago Native - Wednesday, Mar 2, 11 @ 9:47 am:
As usual Chicago Tonight had an excellent panel on Jody Weis’s departure.
Most of the panel agreed he did an excellent job and that even if morale was down in the police force. (And it was I know a lot of COPs) The panel Elizabeth Brackett interviewed agreed he put an tried to put end to business as usual, or giving favors to the favorite and promotions had to be earned on merit, or at least thats what he tried.
The statistics for violent crime, etc were down. The South Side was still more ignored than the North Side, but it always has been for everything.
At least with Hillard in for a few months that should help calm things down, as far the morale issues and it would be a happier department, less hostile environment the new Police Supt. will walk in to.
- Responsa - Wednesday, Mar 2, 11 @ 9:52 am:
The shocking, apparently widespread and costly workman’s comp fraud in Illinois will make a very interesting book. (Either through a ripped from the headlines novel, or a non-fiction expose.) I hope someone has already started on the research and documentation and is well into writing the first few chapters.
- Plutocrat03 - Wednesday, Mar 2, 11 @ 9:56 am:
So if the rank and file of the CPD were riled up by the end of business as usual, will Hillard unilaterally restore the good old boys network?
The fact will remain that crime decreased under Wei’s departure with less manpower than was available when he started.
- State Worker - Wednesday, Mar 2, 11 @ 10:47 am:
Can we just hire the BND to run the AGs office and the Department of Insurance Fraud? As an incredibly exhausted employee, and on behalf of those who have it worse than me, I am so angry that these people are committing fraud and no one in the state ever looked at the numbers. Did I say fraud? I meant grand larceny. Think what happens to people who get caught stealing a pair of expensive shoes or a bottle of wine or cosmetics?!
- Louis G. Atsaves - Wednesday, Mar 2, 11 @ 11:35 am:
Time. Out. Workers’ Compensation clarification time is in order right about now. And with the clarification comes a few discomforting questions.
For the Menard’s employee to receive a “pro se” settlement of his claims, he generally needs to appear in front of an Arbitrator of the Commission. The Respondent (employer) also needs to be present, through their assigned attorney. “Pro Se” means you represent yourself without the services of an attorney.
The settlement contract must be on a prescribed Commission form and is signed by three people prior to being presented to an Arbitrator for approval: (1) The employee, (2) the employee’s attorney (in this case there was none), and (3) the employer through its agent (in this case CMS) or attorney (Attorney General).
When this gentlemen received his “pro se” settlements for his injuries, he presented a settlement contract to the Arbitrator with a representative of the Attorney General standing next to him, either a special assistant AG or an assistant AG. According to the article, he appeared before the Arbitrator. This means some representative of the AG’s office also appeared at the settlement hearing and verified the accuracy of the information contained in the settlement contract presented, asserted it was fair and reasonable, and signed it.
Now the AG’s office wants to investigate these claims for fraud? After being part of the settlement process? After verifying the accuracy of the settlement and asserting that it was fair?
Before my head explodes over that irony, I need to ask a few more questions:
Was the AG’s office hoodwinked or asleep at the wheel? Was CMS hoodwinked or asleep at the wheel?
Those Menard’s cases didn’t magically settle all by themselves. Someone or more than one person gave the OK to settle them on behalf of the State of Illinois before they were presented to the Arbitrator for approval.
Where is the newspaper article over who gave the OK to settle all those claims on behalf of the State? I am assuming that it will be coming shortly.
- Leave a light on George - Wednesday, Mar 2, 11 @ 11:51 am:
=Where is the newspaper article over who gave the OK to settle all those claims on behalf of the State? I am assuming that it will be coming shortly.=
The BND is a daily paper. Give them a chance. They want to sell papers in the future too.
=Was the AG’s office hoodwinked or asleep at the wheel? Was CMS hoodwinked or asleep at the wheel?=
At the very least. Complicit?
- Louis G. Atsaves - Wednesday, Mar 2, 11 @ 11:58 am:
Complicit? I need to see more information before arriving at that conclusion. So far, it would appear to be “no.”
- dupage dan - Wednesday, Mar 2, 11 @ 4:24 pm:
While my bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome was the result of many years of hard physical work, both in and out of the jobs I have held, I did type enough, I suppose, to have filed a workmans comp claim against my state agency and probably would have gotten away with it.
I enjoy much relief after having had the operations on each hand and am thankful. I missed 1 day of work for each surgery. Typing with one hand was hard enough. As for other stuff……..
What goes on in the minds of people? Law enforcement staff at that! Disgusting.
- cermak_rd - Wednesday, Mar 2, 11 @ 6:17 pm:
Now this is the kind of immigrant crackdown I support. Not the rounding up of workers in random potemkin immigration raids at plants, but the targeting of gangmembers and criminals. Folks who are an actual detriment to their communities.