Hicks v. Industrial Commission

PRESIDING JUSTICE McCULLOUGH

delivered the opinion of the court:

Claimant, William Hicks, sought compensation pursuant to the Illinois Workers’ Occupational Diseases Act (Act) (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1989, ch. 48, par. 172.36 et seq.) for impairment of his heart and lungs resulting from the inhalation of coal and rock dust. An arbitration hearing was held on September 12, 1989. Hicks testified that he was 59 years old when he left Zeigler Coal Company on January 31, 1981. He had been a miner since 1941, with the exception of a 3x/2-year tour of duty in the Air Force. While in the Air Force, Hicks…