Residential Carpentry, Inc. v. Kennedy

• Decision Date: 13 November 2007
• Docket Number: No. 1-06-1705 WC.,1-06-1705 WC.
• Citation: 377 Ill.App.3d 499,879 N.E.2d 439
• Parties: RESIDENTIAL CARPENTRY, INC., Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Randy KENNEDY, Defendant-Appellee.
• Court: United States Appellate Court of Illinois

879 N.E.2d 439

377 Ill.App.3d 499

RESIDENTIAL CARPENTRY, INC., Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Randy KENNEDY, Defendant-Appellee.

No. 1-06-1705 WC.

Appellate Court of Illinois, First District, Workers' Compensation Commission Division.

November 13, 2007.

Justice GROMETER delivered the opinion of the court:

Respondent, Residential Carpentry, Inc., appeals an order of the Circuit Court of Cook County dismissing its appeal for want of jurisdiction. We affirm.

Claimant, Randy Kennedy, filed an application for adjustment of claim pursuant to the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act (Act) (820 ILCS 305/1 et seq. (West 2002)) alleging that he injured his lower left extremity while in respondent's employ. Following a hearing, the arbitrator found that claimant sustained injuries that arose out of and in the course of his employment and that claimant's present condition of ill being was causally related to the injury. The arbitrator awarded claimant temporary total disability (TTD) benefits of $314.13 per week for 13 5/7 weeks, permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits of $282.72 per week for 31 weeks (representing 20% loss of use of claimant's left foot), and medical expenses in the amount of $1,480. The arbitrator also found that respondent unreasonably and vexatiously delayed and refused payment of TTD benefits and medical expenses to claimant. As such, the arbitrator awarded penalties of $2,894.04 under section 19(k) of the Act (820 ILCS 305/19(k) (West 2002)), penalties of $950 under section 19(l) of the Act (820 ILCS 305/19(l) (West 2002)), and attorney fees and costs of $1,347.61 under section 16 of the Act (820 ILCS 305/16 (West 2002)).

Respondent appealed the matter to the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission (Commission). On June 6, 2005, the Commission affirmed the decision of the arbitrator with respect to TTD, PPD, and medical expenses, but modified the awards of penalties and attorney fees. The Commission fixed the bond for removal of the cause to the circuit court by respondent at $14,700, and the probable cost of preparing the record of proceedings at $35. See 820 ILCS 305/19(f) (West 2002). Respondent received the decision on June 9, 2005. On June 28, 2005, respondent paid $35 to the Commission for preparation of the record on appeal, and was provided a receipt for the payment. On June 29, 2005, respondent filed with the circuit court the receipt as well as a civil action cover sheet. The clerk docketed the cause as No. 05-L-050607. On the same date, respondent filed in the circuit court a "Request for Summons" with a return date of July 26, 2005. The request for summons listed the names and last known addresses of the parties in interest and their attorneys of record. Respondent also filed with the clerk a summons issued to claimant and his attorney, a summons issued to the Commission, and an appeal bond. Both summonses identified the decision to be reviewed as the June 6, 2005, decision. The clerk certified that it served the summonses by mail on June 29, 2005. The obligation of the appeal bond was limited to $14,700.

Meanwhile, on June 17, 2005, claimant filed a motion to recall the Commission's June 6, 2005, decision, for the correction of a clerical error. In his motion, claimant noted that the arbitrator awarded penalties of $2,894.04 under section 19(k) of the Act (820 ILCS 305/19(k) (West 2002)), but that the Commission's decision inadvertently omitted this penalty. According to respondent, it did not become aware of this motion until after it filed its appeal in the circuit court. On July 1, 2005, the Commission issued an order of recall and vacated its June 6, 2005, decision. Simultaneously, the Commission issued a corrected decision. In the corrected decision, the Commission fixed the bond for removal of the cause to the circuit court by respondent at $19,500, and the probable cost of preparing the record of proceedings at $35. See 820 ILCS 305/19(f) (West 2002). Respondent received the corrected decision on July 11, 2005. On July 29, 2005, respondent filed in case No. 05-L-050607, a "Request for Alias Summons" with a return date of August 23, 2005. The request for alias summons identified the decision to be reviewed as the Commission's July 1, 2005, decision, and listed the names and last known addresses of the parties in interest and their attorneys of record. Also on July 29, 2005, respondent filed an alias summons issued to claimant and his attorney and an alias summons issued to the Commission. Both summonses identified the decision to be reviewed as the Commission's corrected decision dated July 1, 2005. On July 29, 2005, the clerk certified that it served the alias summonses by mail.

On September 7, 2005, respondent filed an appeal bond rider. The rider stated that it is "[t]o be attached to and form a part of" the appeal bond filed earlier. The purpose of the rider was to increase the bond limit from $14,700 to $19,500. The rider, which lists an effective date of June 6, 2005, was signed and sealed on August 31, 2005. On September 20, 2005, respondent filed its appellant brief in the circuit court of Cook County.

On November 4, 2005, claimant filed a motion to dismiss respondent's appeal. In his motion, claimant argued that the circuit court lacked jurisdiction to address respondent's appeal because respondent failed to file a new appeal after receiving the Commission's corrected decision, failed to file a receipt for the probable cost of preparing the record of proceedings after issuance of the corrected decision, and failed to file an appeal bond in the proper amount within the time frame required by the Act. See 820 ILCS 305/19(f) (West 2002). On April 20, 2006, the circuit court of Cook County granted claimant's motion to dismiss. On May 16, 2006, the court denied respondent's motion to reconsider, and this appeal followed.

Respondent complains that the trial court erred in dismissing his appeal for lack of jurisdiction. Respondent asserts that it complied with the requirements of section 19(f) of the Act (820 ILCS 305/19(f) (West 2002)). In particular, respondent asserts that (1) it filed a proper and complete request for issuance of summons within 20 days after it received the Commission's corrected decision, (2) it had already paid for the costs of preparing the record and the circuit court clerk had before it clear proof of payment when the Commission's decision was appealed, and (3) it had filed an appeal bond that was still binding and effective which was later amended. At the outset, we note that claimant has not filed an appellee's brief. However, we will address the issue presented based upon the principles set forth in First Capitol Mortgage Corp. v. Talandis Construction Corp., 63 Ill.2d 128, 133, 345 N.E.2d 493 (1976). See F & B Manufacturing Co. v. Industrial Comm'n, 325 Ill.App.3d 527, 530, 259 Ill.Dec. 173, 758 N.E.2d 18 (2001). Upon review of the record and the relevant authorities, we conclude that the trial court properly dismissed respondent's appeal for lack of jurisdiction because respondent failed to comply with the requirements for filing an appeal bond.¹

While Illinois courts are courts of general jurisdiction and are presumed to have subject-matter jurisdiction, this presumption does not apply to workers' compensation proceedings. Kavonius v. Industrial Comm'n, 314 Ill.App.3d 166, 169, 247 Ill.Dec. 279, 731 N.E.2d 1287 (2000). Rather, on appeal from a decision of the Commission, the circuit court obtains subject matter jurisdiction only if the appellant complies with the statutorily-prescribed conditions set forth in the Act. Jones v. Industrial Comm'n, 188 Ill.2d 314, 319-20, 242 Ill.Dec. 284, 721 N.E.2d 563 (1999). At issue in this case is whether respondent complied with the provisions of section 19(f) (820 ILCS 305/19(f) (West 2002)). Section 19(f)(2) provides that no summons shall issue unless the party against whom the Commission rendered an award for the payment of money files an appeal bond at the time a written request for summons is presented to the clerk of the court. 820 ILCS 305/19(f)(2) (West 2002). Section 19(f)(1) requires a party seeking judicial review of a decision of the Commission to file the request for summons with the clerk of the circuit court within 20 days of the receipt of the Commission's decision. 820 ILCS 305/19(f)(1) (West 2002). Because the appeal bond must be filed at the time the written request for summons is presented to the clerk of the court, it too must be filed within the 20-day deadline. See Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Industrial Comm'n, 326 Ill.App.3d 438, 441, 260 Ill.Dec. 585, 761 N.E.2d 768 (2001); Kavonius, 314 Ill. App.3d at 169, 247 Ill.Dec. 279, 731 N.E.2d 1287. The appellant must strictly comply with the bond requirements of section 19(f)(2) (Freedom Graphic Systems, Inc. v. Industrial Comm'n, 345 Ill.App.3d 716, 719, 280 Ill.Dec. 741, 802 N.E.2d 1262 (2003)),² and the filing of an appeal bond is jurisdictional in nature (Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. v. Industrial Comm'n, 74 Ill.2d 269, 272, 24 Ill.Dec. 171, 384 N.E.2d 1329 (1979)). See also Berryman Equipment v. Industrial Comm'n, 276 Ill.App.3d 76, 78-79, 212 Ill.Dec. 694, 657 N.E.2d 1039 (1995) (noting that because the bond requirement is statutory, strict compliance is required to vest subject-matter jurisdiction in the circuit court).

Section 19(f) also provides the Commission with the authority to correct any clerical or computational errors. In International Harvester v. Industrial Comm'n, 71 Ill.2d 180, 188, 15 Ill.Dec. 747, 374 N.E.2d 182 (1978), the supreme court determined that an appeal from a decision of the Commission which is commenced prior to the resolution of a motion to correct is premature. Thus, in those cases in which the Commission recalls a decision upon a motion to correct, the Commission's decision is not considered final and appealable until the Commission issues its corrected decision, and the time for review begins...