News

Lieutenant Painter was injured while fighting a fire for the City of Champaign. Lieutenant Painter hired Stephen P. Kelly to handle his line of duty disability claim and workers’ compensation case. After a full pension hearing, Stephen P. Kelly was successful in obtaining his line of duty benefits. Subsequent to the line of duty pension hearing, Stephen P. Kelly was able to successfully settle Lieutenant Painter’s workers’ compensation case for $230,595.75. 

Captain Diel was injured while responding to an emergency scene for the City of Champaign. Captain Diel hired Stephen P. Kelly to handle his line of duty disability claim and workers’ compensation case. After a full pension hearing, Stephen P. Kelly was successful in obtaining his line of duty benefits. Subsequent to the line of duty pension hearing, Stephen P. Kelly was able to successfully settle Captain Diel’s workers’ compensation case for $249,505.00. 

Officer Vaughn, a 37-year police officer and school resource officer, alleges he sustained an accidental injury that arose out of and in the course of his employment with City of Peoria Heights by on 12/14/22, as the result of an altercation with a student. The issues at trial were accident, causal connection, medical expenses, temporary total disability and nature and extent of the injury. Prior to the work accident, Officer Vaughn had a pacemaker in place for preexisting heart issue he had since childhood. After the work accident Officer Vaughn was placed on lifetime blood thinners.

The City of Peoria Heights denied the case based off Officer Vaughn’s pre-existing condition. 

Offer prior to trial was zero.

Verdict was $186,923.25, representing temporary total disability benefits of $923.08/week for 63-5/7 weeks, commencing 1/6/23 through 3/28/24, as provided in Section 8(b) of the Act and permanent partial disability benefits of $830.77/week for 225 weeks, because the injuries sustained caused the 45% loss of the person as a whole, as provided in Section 8(d)2 of the Act. In addition to life time medical rights for the the work related condition.

Firefighter Tom Veatch was awarded Line of Duty Disability Benefits after a hearing wherein Stephen P. Kelly represented him. Then, Tom Veatch was granted PSEBA benefits. Finally, Stephen P. Kelly was able to secure a settlement for Mr. Veatch equaling $263,180.25 in the Workers compensation case.

When Christopher Dunne hired Attorney Stephen P. Kelly, he had sustained a work injury but was being denied workers compensation benefits. The workers compensation injury was to his foot and ankle which resulted in the need for surgery. With the representation of Stephen P Kelly Mr. Dunn was able to obtain line of duty disability benefits which were awarded by the east Peoria firefighter pension board. Additionally, Mr. Dunne was awarded Public Employee Disability Safety Act  (PSEBA) benefits that provides health insurance to him and his family. The third step of the case was the presentation of the workers compensation case to a workers compensation arbitrator. Leading up to the date of trial, the city of east Peoria offered Christopher Dunn zero to settle the case. On the doorsteps of trial, and after a lengthy pretrial in front of the arbitrator, the case was settled. In addition to securing Christopher Dunn his line of duty disability benefits and PSEBA benefits, the workers compensation case was settled for a total of $230,000. This workers compensation settlement was obtained even after the City of East Peoria spent thousands of dollars in surveillance on Christopher Dunne, in addition to utilizing an independent medical examiner who indicated that Mr. Dunne’s condition of ill-being was not related to the work accident.

Mr. Kunz was a veteran firefighter for the city of Springfield. As result of his work exposures, he was diagnosed with severe post-traumatic stress disorder. Stephen P Kelly was able to obtain Line of Duty Disability Benefits for Mr. Kunz in front of the Springfield Firefighter Pension Board. Additionally, Stephen P Kelly was able to obtain Mr. Kunz  Public Employee Safety Disability Act (PSEBA) Benefits for Mr. Kunz and his family in form of health insurance. When it came to the workers compensation case, the City of Springfield denied responsibility for Firefighter Kunz’s diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder. Additionally, the City of Springfield denied any responsibility for payment of any medical bills for treatment that Mr. Kunz received at the IAFF of Excellence in Maryland. The case was tried. The verdict in favor of Loren Kunz totaled over $300,000 which included payment of all outstanding medical bills incurred because of the work injuries.

• Officer Vasquez appeared at accident site wherein a fellow officer was fatally injured.
• Officer Vasquez developed PTSD symptoms in the months follow the exposure to the fatal scene.
• Officer Vasquez was diagnoses with PTSD almost 8 months after the exposure.
• Stephen P. Kelly was able to obtain line of duty benefits after a trial in front of the Jacksonville Police Pension Board.
• Stephen P. Kelly was able to secure PSEBA benefits for Officer Vasquez and his family.
• Finally, Stephen P. Kelly tried Officer Vasquez Workers Compensation.
• Prior to the Workers Compensation trial, the City of Jacksonville offer approximate $115,000 to settle the Workers compensation case.
• The offer was rejected, and the case was tried.

The verdict:

ORDER

• The City of Jacksonville shall pay the Petitioner TTD benefits from September 19, 2017, through May 18, 2022, or 243 and 1/7 weeks, at his weekly rate of $822.64.
•  The City of Jacksonville shall pay permanent partial disability benefits of $740.38/week for 175 weeks, because the injuries sustained caused a 35% loss of use to Petitioner’s man as a whole, pursuant to Section 8(d)2.
•  The City of Jacksonville shall pay Petitioner compensation that has accrued from May 18, 2022, through the date of this award, and shall pay the remainder of the award, if any, in weekly payments.
•  The City of Jacksonville shall pay all medical charges related to this claim, for Petitioner’s reasonable and necessary medical treatment.
•  The City of Jacksonville shall pay all medical charges consistent with the medical fee schedule, and pursuant to Sections 8(a) and 8.2 of the Act.
•  The City of Jacksonville shall make this payment directly to Petitioner’s attorney in accordance with Section 9080.20 of the Rules Governing Practice before the IWCC.
•  The City of Jacksonville shall provide and pay for Petitioner’s ongoing reasonable, necessary, and related follow up psychiatric visits, medications, and EMDR.
•  Total awarded in monies over $330,000 to Officer Vasquez.

Stephen P. Kelly tried Martin v River City Construction, which resulted on the Mr. Martin-Petitioner in receiving lifetime benefits, including, but not limited to:

1. Payment by the Employer of Permanent and Total Disability Benefits of $1188.08/week for life, commencing June 15, 2020, as provided in Section 8(1) of the Act,
2. Payment by the Employer of all reasonable and necessary outstanding medical expenses, including but not limited to the following: $15,000.00 towards the Life Care Plan costs for obtaining said report;
3. Payment by the Employer $80,000.00 towards the purchase of a new home for  ADA compliance needed as a result the injury; the related medical expenses, and 
4. Payment by the Employer future medical expenses projected to exceed $4,206,169.25.

 Firefighter Stewart injured his right shoulder, right knee and left knee while participating in fire training while working for the City of Urbana. Firefighter Stewart underwent a left knee surgery and a right knee surgery. After a full pension hearing, Stephen P. Kelly was successful in obtaining Firefighter Stewart his line of duty benefits. Subsequent to the line of duty pension hearing, Stephen P. Kelly was able to successfully settle Firefighter Stewart’s workers’ compensation case for $187,442.00.