Illinois Governor Appoints 29 Workers’ Comp Arbitrators

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has appointed 29 arbitrators in Illinois’ workers’ compensation system.

Arbitrators rule on claims filed under the state’s Workers Compensation Act. The appointments are part of a package of reforms to the workers’ compensation system that passed the General Assembly and was signed into law earlier this year.

Under the new law, all newly-appointed arbitrators must be attorneys. Five sitting arbitrators who are not attorneys were reappointed based on their years of experience and exemplary performance, as allowed under the reform law. In total, 24 of the 29 total arbitrator appointees are attorneys.

Arbitrators not reappointed by the governor include: John Dibble, Gilberto Galicia, James Giordano, Kathleen Hagan, Robert Lammie, Andrew Nalefski, Richard Peterson and Joseph Prieto. One arbitrator, Charles DeVriendt, will be appointed to the commission. Former arbitrator Jennifer Teague resigned as of July 30, 2011.

In 2010, Illinois had the third highest workers’ compensation premium costs in the nation. This year’s reforms are projected to result in a nearly 9 percent decrease in compensation costs for employers, based on a filing with the Illinois Department of Insurance by the National Council on Compensation Insurance. Illinois employers are expected to save up to $500 million annually in premiums as a result of the overhaul package.

While only 4 percent of the roughly 50,000 claims filed with the commission each year involve state employees, recent reports of a high level of claims, awards and settlements involving state employees in certain jurisdictions have resulted in an ongoing investigation by the Illinois Department of Insurance. Settlements for claims at one correctional center alone have cost taxpayers almost $12 million, the Associated Press reported.

To avoid the possibility that long-standing relationships among parties could compromise the integrity of the process, the reform package included the random assignment of cases amongst arbitrators. In addition, arbitrators will now rotate among the Illinois’ statewide hearing sites every 90 days.

Arbitrators are paid $115,800 a year, according to the AP.

Topics Workers' Compensation Illinois