WCLA is a proud supporter of Kids’ Chance of Illinois and recently donated $5,000.00 to this incredible organization. Kids’ Chance of Illinois provides need-based scholarships to the families of seriously injured workers in our state.  Kids’ Chance organizations across the country have awarded over 7,300 educational scholarships since their inception, with over $24,000,000 in scholarship funds to workers’ families.  If you know of an applicant who may be interested in applying for a scholarship through Kids’ Chance, please visit their website to review the criteria: https://www.kidschanceofillinois.com/apply-for-scholarship.html

As we indicated in our email last week, WCLA is proud to donate to many worthy organizations and we hope you will also consider supporting Kids’ Chance.  To make a donation or consider sponsorship, please visit their website or refer to the attached application: https://www.kidschanceofillinois.com/donate.html

Kids' Chance 2020 Corporate Sponsor Packet

- Laura D. Hrubec
  WCLA President

The WCLA recognizes the significant impact the COVID-19 pandemic has on everyone in Illinois.  The current crisis has resulted in the cancellation of our holiday party and several other in-person events.  Since we will not be paying for those events this year, we have decided to donate the money we would have spent on these events to those in need. 

For years, the WCLA has been a proud sponsor of the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC).  This organization provides places to stay for families of hospitalized children.  It provides rooms, food and overall support.  This organization has made a crucial difference in the lives of so many families.  As you can all imagine, charitable donations overall have been down this year, everywhere.  The RMHC, and the kids and families they provide for, need our help. The WCLA has donated $50,000 to this organization.  We encourage anyone that is able to follow this link https://www.rmhc.org/ and provide what you can to help.  Every little bit helps these kids.

As a result of COVID -19, many families are also going hungry and we would like to help.  We will donate $3,500 to three Illinois Food banks, listed below.  By donating to each food bank, we are helping feed those in need throughout the entire state.  Below are the names of the organizations and a link for you to follow should you wish to contribute to this worthy cause:

• Central Illinois Food Bank: https://www.centralilfoodbank.org/
• Greater Chicago Food Depository: https://www.chicagosfoodbank.org/
• Northern Illinois Food Bank: https://solvehungertoday.org/

It is a credit to our membership and sponsors that the WCLA is able to donate at this level during times like these.  We are honored to be a part of such an amazing organization.  Thank you to all of you who have sponsored and supported us.  We could not do this without your help.  

Use the links to view the letter to WCLA from the CompFile Team and a flyer indicating that they will be going live on July 22^nd for contract filing. You must register with CompFile in order to submit contracts for approval in all in cases except as it concerns Pro Se contracts.

• CompFile R2 Letter to WCLA Members
• Electronic Settlements

By Order of the Chairman, the below listed Special Circumstance Procedures for both Review and Arbitration, that are listed for the month of June, 2020, will be carried over through the month of July, 2020.

An announcement relative to the continuing process for the month of August will be made near the end of the month of July.

A calendar, together with the WebEx information for the Call and hearing dates of each Commissioner and Arbitrator can be accessed from the IWCC website utilizing the links provided.

This is a reminder to all members of the Bar. When you appear at the IWCC, you must engage in social distancing. By this we mean that you must stand approximately six (6) feet apart. A horde of lawyers crowded into a small space at the IWCC is not social distancing.

Pro se litigants are in no way to be blamed for the Bar’s inability to engage in social distancing and or estimate a safe number of people in a confined area. It is the responsibility of the attorneys to make certain that all whom they invite act appropriately.

Due to the large number of attorneys and pro se litigants that appeared at the Commission, in Chicago, on Wednesday, June 10, 2020, we are forced to add additional dates for a pro se arbitrator. We originally scheduled Arbitrator Seal for each Wednesday in Chicago, during the month of June.

Arbitrator Seal will now be available for pro se settlements on Monday, June 15, Wednesday, June 17, Friday June 19, Wednesday June 24 and Thursday June 25, 2020. If additional dates are needed we will add them.

If there is a repeat of the overcrowding of the IWCC offices in Chicago, or for that matter any venue, we will take steps to limit the number of persons allowed into our offices.

Using this link, please review the document from CompFile. Once they go “live” in July for contract submissions, paper submissions will no longer be accepted except for pro se settlements. If you are not yet registered, please register now. Information regarding registration is on our website.

The June Arbitration Location Schedule has been updated on the IWCC website.  Hearing location updates are as follows:

1. Ottawa trials will be in OTTAWA on Friday, June 26^th
2. Bloomington trials will be held in Springfield on Monday, June 29^th and Tuesday, June 30^th
3. Kankakee trials will be held in Chicago on Friday, June 19^th
4. Geneva trials will be held in Wheaton on Monday, June 15^th, Tuesday, June 16^th, and Wednesday, June 17^th.

To access the complete “June Arbitration Location Schedule please go to the IWCC website homepage and scroll down to Click Here For The June Arbitration Location Schedule.

All hearings that were scheduled to be held in New Lenox on June 9^th, 10^th and 11^th have been moved to the IWCC offices at the Thompson Center. The date and time of the hearings will remain as previously scheduled. Please continue to monitor the IWCC website for further information.

Please follow this link to the Commission’s memo outlining Commission proceedings for the month of June.

Please note the Commission will reopen again tomorrow, June 4th, for limited proceedings and filing.

The June 2020 Arbitration Calendar that is posted as a link on the IWCC website has been updated to include Webex and telephone dial in links. In order to join the status call of any arbitrator for the month of June,  simply locate that arbitrator’s name in the "Arbitrator" column. You then have the option of joining the status call by either Webex or telephone by moving over to the "Webex Access" columns and clicking on either the "Phone" or "Web" option. You will then be connected directly to the status call.