100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
SB1863

 

Introduced 2/9/2017, by Sen. Dan McConchie

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
820 ILCS 305/16a  from Ch. 48, par. 138.16a

    Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Limits attorney's fees to 15%, rather than 20%, of the sum which would be due under this Act for 364 weeks of permanent total disability based upon the employee's average weekly wage. Effective immediately.


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A BILL FOR

 

SB1863LRB100 05492 JLS 15503 b

1    AN ACT concerning employment.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Workers' Compensation Act is amended by
5changing Section 16a as follows:
 
6    (820 ILCS 305/16a)  (from Ch. 48, par. 138.16a)
7    Sec. 16a. (A) In the establishment or approval of
8attorney's fees in relation to claims brought under this Act,
9the Commission shall be guided by the provisions of this
10Section and by the legislative intent, hereby declared, to
11encourage settlement and prompt administrative handling of
12such claims and thereby reduce expenses to claimants for
13compensation under this Act.
14    (B) With respect to any and all proceedings in connection
15with any initial or original claim under this Act, no claim of
16any attorney for services rendered in connection with the
17securing of compensation for an employee or his dependents,
18whether secured by agreement, order, award or a judgment in any
19court shall exceed 20% of the amount of compensation recovered
20and paid, unless further fees shall be allowed to the attorney
21upon a hearing by the Commission fixing fees, and subject to
22the other provisions of this Section. However, except as
23hereinafter provided in this Section, in death cases, total

 

 

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1disability cases and partial disability cases, the amount of an
2attorney's fees shall not exceed 15% 20% of the sum which would
3be due under this Act for 364 weeks of permanent total
4disability based upon the employee's average gross weekly wage
5prior to the date of the accident and subject to the maximum
6weekly benefits provided in this Act unless further fees shall
7be allowed to the attorney upon a hearing by the Commission
8fixing fees.
9    (C) All attorneys' fees in connection with the initial or
10original claim for compensation shall be fixed pursuant to a
11written contract on forms prescribed by the Commission between
12the attorney and the employee or his dependents, and every
13attorney, whether the disposition of the original claim is by
14agreement, settlement, award, judgment or otherwise, shall
15file his contract with the Chairman of the Commission who shall
16approve the contract only if it is in accordance with all
17provisions of this Section.
18    (D) No attorneys' fees shall be charged with respect to
19compensation for undisputed medical expenses.
20    (E) No attorneys' fees shall be charged in connection with
21any temporary total disability compensation unless the payment
22of such compensation in a timely manner or in the proper amount
23is refused, or unless such compensation is terminated by the
24employer and the payment of such compensation is obtained or
25reinstated by the efforts of the attorney, whether by
26agreement, settlement, award or judgment.

 

 

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1    (F) In the following cases in which there is no dispute
2between the parties as to the liability of the respondent to
3pay compensation in a timely manner or in the proper amount and
4there is no dispute that the accident has resulted in:
5        (1) the death of the employee; or
6        (2) a statutory permanent disability; or
7        (3) the amputation of a finger, toe, or member; or
8        (4) the removal of a testicle; or
9        (5) the enucleation of or 100% loss of vision of an
10    eye;
11the legal fees, if any, for services rendered are to be fixed
12by the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission at a nominal
13amount, not exceeding $100.
14    (G) In the following cases in which there is no dispute
15between the parties as to the liability of the respondent to
16pay compensation and there is no dispute that the accident has
17resulted in:
18        (1) a fracture of one or more vertebrae; or
19        (2) a skull fracture; or
20        (3) a fracture of one or more spinous or transverse
21    processes; or
22        (4) a fracture of one or more facial bones; or
23        (5) the removal of a kidney, spleen or lung;
24the legal fees, if any, for services rendered are to be fixed
25by the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission at a nominal
26amount, not exceeding $100, provided that the employee is

 

 

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1awarded the minimum amount for the above injuries as specified
2in Section 8(d)2.
3    (H) With regard to any claim where the amount to be paid
4for compensation does not exceed the written offer made to the
5claimant or claimants by the employer or his agent prior to
6representation by an attorney, no fees shall be paid to any
7such attorney.
8    (I) All attorneys' fees for representation of an employee
9or his dependents shall be only recoverable from compensation
10actually paid to such employee or dependents.
11    (J) Any and all disputes regarding attorneys' fees, whether
12such disputes relate to which one or more attorneys represents
13the claimant or claimants or is entitled to the attorneys'
14fees, or a division of attorneys' fees where the claimant or
15claimants are or have been represented by more than one
16attorney, or any other disputes concerning attorneys' fees or
17contracts for attorneys' fees, shall be heard and determined by
18the Commission after reasonable notice to all interested
19parties and attorneys.
20    (K) After reasonable notice and hearing before the
21Commission, any attorney found to be in violation of any
22provision of this Section shall be required to make restitution
23of any excess fees charged plus interest at a reasonable rate
24as determined by the Commission.
25(Source: P.A. 93-721, eff. 1-1-05.)
 
26    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon

 

 

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1becoming law.