Leach v. Lauhoff Grain Co.

Mr. PRESIDING JUSTICE CRAVEN

delivered the opinion of the court:

Does an employee discharged solely because he files a workmen’s compensation claim have a cause of action for such retaliatory discharge?

We hold that he does.

Retaliatory discharge by an employer is contrary to the expressly stated public policy of this State and gives rise to a cause of action in tort for compensatory and punitive damages. The ruling of the circuit court dismissing a complaint and holding there to be no such cause of action is reversed and the case is remanded to the circuit court with directions to deny the…