Donoho v. O'Connell's, Inc.

Betty Donoho recovered a judgment of $20,000 in a personal injury action against O’Connell’s, Inc. Appeals to the Appellate Court and to this court followed, (13 Ill. App. 2d 250; 13 Ill.2d 113; 19 Ill. App. 2d 512,) and the judgment was ultimately affirmed. The matter is now before us again, and the present issue concerns the validity of a statutory lien asserted by the Illinois Public Aid Commission against the proceeds of the judgment.

In July of 1957, while her case was pending on appeal, Betty Donoho began to receive disability assistance from the Illinois Public Aid Commission. Between…