Tower Automotive v. Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission

I concur in all aspects of the majority decision except the determination that the collateral source rule does not apply to claims under the Workers’ Compensation Act. From that portion of the majority decision, I respectfully dissent.

Although the majority treats this as a matter of first impression, it is my belief that our supreme court has addressed this issue. In Hill Freight Lines, Inc. v. Industrial Comm’n, 36 Ill. 2d 419, 223 N.E.2d 140 (1967), the claimant’s medical bills had been paid through the Union Health and Welfare Fund, which operated a medical and hospital benefit plan for…