In the show Supermarket Sweep, contestants raced through the aisles of a supermarket in a short amount of allotted time, competing for the highest dollar value of items in their cart by the end of the spree.

In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, every sunset brings the promise of a new dawn. For first responders and front-line workers affected by COVID-19, the sunset provision of House Bill 4276 extends the promises and benefits of the COVID presumptive laws from December 31, 2020 to June 30, 2021.

The phrase “no risk, no reward” is especially relevant in workers’ compensation, where risk is central to a compensable injury.

The concept of risk is a heavily debated, highly contentious, and extremely nuanced area of Illinois Workers’ Compensation law. 

Effective April 13, 2020, the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission amended Rule 9030.70, expanding the Commission’s Rules of Evidence to include a rebuttable presumption for first responders and front-line workers exposed to COVID-19.

Being surveilled is unsettling, but the ordinary life of a Petitioner is a fascinating area of workers’ compensation and can have a significant impact at any trial.

“Dem Bones” (also known as “Dry Bones”) is a biblical song, inspired by Ezekiel’s visits to the Valley of Dry Bones. In Ezekiel’s vision, the dry bones are connected into human figures, and the prophet is commanded to revitalize the figures.

In the arena of workers’ compensation, attorneys heavily scrutinize the credentials of physicians, combing through every certification, publication or piece of education that is susceptible to attack.

Self-directed job logs, ledgers and spreadsheets created by a Petitioner should be heavily scrutinized, and can be critical in pointing to a claimant’s diminished credibility.

If you’ve got low back pain, you’re in good company.  Low back pain is the most common musculoskeletal condition in the adult population, with prevalence up to 84%.[1]  The use of advanced imaging (such as MRI) is dramatically on the rise, despite lack of evidence to support its benefit.