Employer Contesting Contribution Liability Need Not Raise 'Kotecki Doctrine' As Affirmative Defense

The Illinois Appellate Court ruled that an employer seeking to limit its potential liability for contribution if its worker prevails in a tort suit against a third party does not need to raise the so-called Kotecki doctrine as an affirmative defense at the time of trial. Case: Burhmester v. Steven Spiess Construction, No. 3-14-0794, 04/28/2016, published. Facts: Nacin Burhmester suffered a severe injury from an electrical shock while working for the L.J. Keefe Co. in 2007. At the time, Keefe was the subcontractor on a project being overseen by the Steve Spiess Construction Co. Procedural H...