Court Overturns Finding of Good Faith Settlement Between Employer, Worker's Estate

The Illinois Appellate Court ruled that a settlement between a worker’s estate and the insurance carrier for his employer had not been entered into in good faith. Case: Hartley v. North American Polymer Co., Nos. 1-19-2619 and 1-19-2620, 12/03/2020, published. Facts: Kevin Hartley had worked for Hartley’s Painting, a construction business run by his uncle, Tony Hartley. In April 2017, Kevin died after using NAPCO White Lightning Low Odor Stripper to refinish a bathtub at an apartment complex in Nashville, Tennessee. He was 21. Kevin had been wearing a respirator mask and g...