THOMAS STACK, Claimant, v. STATE OF ILLINOIS, Respondent.

Case summary

Claimant, a highway tree trimmer, was injured when a branch broke and knocked him from a ladder, fracturing his leg. The court sustained the state's demurrer as a matter of law but awarded $1,500 on equitable and social justice grounds.

Claim type: Personal Injury Negligence

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Headnotes

RESPONDENT SUPERIOR-State not liable. The State is not liable for in- SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY-award may be made. An award may be OSCAR E. CARLSTROM, Attorney General; FRANK R. EAGLE- 180 POWERS-THOMPSON CONST. CO. v. STATE OF ILLINOIS.

RESPONDENT SUPERIOR-State not liable. The State is not liable for injuries sustained by its employees while in the performance of their duty. SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY-award may be made. An award may be made to an employee of the State who is injured while in the discharge of his duty, as a matter of social justice and equity. BARR & BARR, for claimant. OSCAR E. CARLSTROM, Attorney General; FRANK R. EAGLETON, Assistant Attorney General, for respondent.

MR. JUSTICE LEECH delivered the opinion of the court:

This claim comes before the court on a declaration filed by Thomas Stack, claimant, in which he alleges that on or [*180] about February 1, 1923, and for one year prior thereto he was employed by the Department of Public Works and Buildings under the supervision and direction of the Division of Highways; that on said date, while engaged in the discharge of his duties in trimming the trees which over-hung the public highway at and in the vicinity of Sag, Illinois, and while on a ladder ten feet from the ground and while sawing a branch from a tree, said branch broke before same was half way severed and fell and while so falling, said branch struck the ladder upon which claimant was standing, knocking the same from under him and as a consequence of which he was thrown upon the ground and as a result of which, claimant's leg was fractured; that he has spent a large sum of money in treating said injuries, and that his leg is permanently disabled.

The demurrer filed by the Attorney General of the State of Illinois, is, as a matter of law, sustained.

On the grounds of equity and social justice, we award claimant the sum of $1,500.00.