General Motors Corp. v. Indus. Com.
338 N.E.2d 561, 62 Ill.2d 106, IL.0001717(1975)
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- £0.49
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- £0.49
Publisher Description
This is an appeal from the circuit court of Cook County in proceedings to review orders of the Industrial Commission. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1973, ch. 110A, par. 302(a).) The facts pertinent to the issues on appeal are undisputed. On May 15, 1970, claimant, Grady Pardue, suffered an accidental injury to his left hand, which arose out of and in the course of his employment as a millwright for the Fisher Body Division of General Motors (hereinafter employer). The claim was settled on April 22, 1971, without arbitration proceedings by the payment of $675 based upon 9 1/2 weeks of compensation at the rate of $71 per week for a 5% loss of use of the left hand. The settlement was reported to the Industrial Commission as required by section 6 of the Workmen's Compensation Act. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1969, ch. 48, par. 138.6.) The report used to inform the Commission of the final payment of compensation under this settlement is commonly referred to as a green sheet. On November 22, 1971, claimant suffered a second injury to the same hand and filed an application for adjustment of claim. At a hearing before an arbitrator, the parties stipulated that the injury arose out of and in the course of employment, that the claimant was married and that he had four children under eighteen years of age. The sole issue in dispute was the nature and extent of the injury. From the evidence adduced, the arbitrator found that claimant had suffered accidental injuries causing the permanent and complete loss of use of the left hand to the extent of 25% and awarded compensation. The arbitrator, however, refused to allow the employer credit for the previous 5% disability to claimant's left hand. Moreover, the arbitrator awarded 47 1/2 weeks of compensation at a weekly rate of $85, while the employer maintained that $71 was the proper weekly rate at the time of claimant's injury.