IL Sup Crt - WC Retaliatory Discharge Amendment

A sharply divided Illinois Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a trial court must allow a plaintiff in a workers' compensation retaliatory discharge action to amend his complaint. In Clemons v. Mechanical Devices Co. (Docket No. 91306, 11/21/02) Clemons, who began working for defendant Mechanical Devices Co. in 1988 as a machine operator, Clemons injured his back in June 1989 while at work and informed his foreman about the injury. He received workers' compensation benefits. Shortly thereafter, the plaintiff's back injury again flared up when he bent over at home to tie his shoes. Clemons then...