Woodward v. Pratt, Bradford & Tobin, P.C.
Case Date: 09/08/1997
Court: 5th District Appellate
Docket No: 5-96-0696
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IN THE APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS FIFTH DISTRICT _________________________________________________________________ JAMES WOODWARD, ) Appeal from the ) Circuit Court of Plaintiff-Appellee, ) Madison County. ) v. ) ) PRATT, BRADFORD & TOBIN, P.C., ) No. 95-L-190 ) Defendant-Appellee ) ) Honorable (The Home Insurance Company, ) Phillip J. Kardis, Intervenor-Appellant). ) Judge, presiding. _________________________________________________________________ JUSTICE MAAG delivered the opinion of the court: In October 1989, James Woodward, an employee of John Morrell & Company, was injured during the course of his employment. The injury occurred in St. Louis County, Missouri, allegedly as a result of a defective pallet truck manufactured by Crown Central Corporation (Crown). In November 1989 Woodward retained the firm of Pratt, Bradford & Tobin, P.C. (Pratt), to represent him. A claim was filed on Woodward's behalf with the Illinois Industrial Commission. Illinois's jurisdiction over the workers' compensation claim was challenged by the employer, but for reasons not pertinent here, the commission found that it had jurisdiction and that Illinois law applied. As a result, the employer's insurance carrier, Home Insurance Company (Home), ultimately paid out benefits to Woodward in an amount exceeding $155,000. On April 4, 1994, 4 |