J. L. Simmons Co. Ex Rel. Hartford Insurance Group v. Firestone Tire & Rubber Co.

John Boone (Boone), an employee of J. L. Simmons Company, Inc. (Simmons), was working for Simmons as an industrial carpenter at the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company (Firestone) plant in Decatur when he was injured while attempting to install a wooden beam at the plant. Boone filed suit in the circuit court of Peoria County against Firestone. He alleged that while lifting the beam he stepped on a strip of visqueen, a plastic liner used at the Firestone plant to separate raw slabs of rubber, slipped and fell along with the beam to the ground, permanently injuring his back. Firestone answered…