No Work Order, No Problem: How Our Firm Secured Justice for an Injured State Employee

Our firm successfully represented an injured stationary engineer in a contested workers’ compensation case before the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. The decision underscores our commitment to protecting injured workers’ rights even in the face of aggressive defenses by state employers.

Our client was employed as a stationary engineer at a State of Illinois facility. While repairing a steam trap from an 8-foot ladder, he experienced a painful pop in his shoulder. He reported the injury immediately and sought medical treatment the following day.

The State of Illinois contested the claim, alleging:

• That no formal work order existed for the task he was performing when injured;

• That our client injured himself by moving a heavy object at home days earlier;

• That social media posts and surveillance undermined our client’s credibility.

We successfully rebutted each of these claims. Through comprehensive witness preparation, expert medical testimony, and thorough documentation of the work-related nature of the accident, the Arbitrator rejected the State’s defenses and ruled decisively in our client’s favor.

The Arbitrator ruled:

• The injury arose out of and in the course of his employment.

• The shoulder injury was related to the work incident.

• Allegations of a prior unrelated injury were based on inadmissible hearsay.

• The Petitioner was credible, and the lack of a work order did not defeat his claim.

This decision highlights that even in cases where employers dispute the legitimacy of the injury or question the credibility of the worker, advocacy and factual development can overcome those defenses. This decision also affirms that lack of paperwork, such as a formal work order, does not automatically defeat a valid claim.