Beckman v. Freeman United Coal Mining Co.

Plaintiff, James T. Beckman, filed this action in the circuit court of Macoupin County against defendant, Freeman United Coal Mining Company, to recover damages for a discharge allegedly in retaliation for the exercise of his rights under the Workers’ Compensation Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 48, par. 138.4 et seq.). Defendant moved to dismiss the action alleging that the cause of action was barred by a prior judgment and “the claim assessed against defendant is barred by other affirmative matters avoiding the legal effect of or defeating the claim.” The circuit court granted defendant’s…