City of Chicago v. Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission

Ezra Townsend filed an application for adjustment of claim against his employer, the City of Chicago, seeking workers’ compensation benefits for an injury to his lower back incurred on April 17, 1998. The matter proceeded to an arbitration hearing under section 19(b) of the Workers’ Compensation Act (Act) (820 ILCS 305/19(b) (West 2006)). The arbitrator found the claim compensable and awarded temporary total disability (TTD) benefits, medical expenses and penalties. The employer appealed to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (Commission), which unanimously affirmed the arbitrator’s…