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. 

Please be advised that the offices of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission will be closed on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 and Wednesday, June 3, 2020. This closure includes all facilities, not only at the James R. Thompson Center, in Chicago, but also IWCC facilities in Rockford, Springfield, Peoria and Collinsville.
This closure has been occasioned by the events of the last several days, throughout the United States, but in particular those in Chicago. It is hoped that we will reopen on Thursday, June 4, 2020. Please continue to check your email and the IWCC website for this notification.
Our WebEx monthly Arbitration Calls will go forward as planned. Decisions relative to in person trials will not be made until a later date.
Please continue to consult the IWCC website for future information.

We recognize these are trying times with much change and many emails outlining those changes. The purpose of this email also is to consolidate the documents for the June docket. Here are links to the following memos:

1. June Procedures Memo
2. Arbitration Location Schedule
3. Arbitrator WebEx links

(today's links can be found on the IWCC website)

June Arbitration Location Schedule - Use this link to view the schedule

WebEx - Please use this link for information concerning WebEx contact details.

Please be advised that the Commission voted 10-0 today to repeal the emergency rule.  The Chairman indicated that the granting of the TRO would cause significant delay and create uncertainty for the rule.  He is creating a task force to review other avenues to address the issue.

Legislative Update COVID-19 Presumption

On May 21, 2020, the Illinois Senate passed HB2455. The bill has now been sent to the House for final passage which is expected to occur today. Click link below for the bill. The presumption created in the Workers’ Occupational Diseases Act begins on page 15.

http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=10100HB2455sam002&SessionID=109&GA=101&DocTypeID=HB&DocNum=2455&print=true