Illinois Court of Claims Opinions
Crime Victim Compensation
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In re Nancy L. Henert

37 Ill. Ct. Cl. 446 Illinois Court of Claims Filed 1984-08-29 No. 83-CV-0939
Disposition: (No. 83-CV-0939-Claim denied.)
Cite as: In re Nancy L. Henert, 37 Ill. Ct. Cl. 446 (1984)
Crime Victim Compensation 37 denied 1980s In re Nancy L. Henert 37 Ill. Ct. Cl. 446 1984-08-29 (No. 83-CV-0939-Claim denied.) /opinions/v37-p0528-1/

In re APPLICATION OF NANCY L. HENERT.

Case summary

Claimant sought compensation for loss of earnings due to injuries from aggravated arson. The court denied the claim because the net loss of $199.72 was below the $200.00 minimum pecuniary loss required by the Act.

Claim type: Crime Victim Compensation

Statutes cited: Ill. Rev. Stat. 1979, ch. 70, par. 71 et seq.; Ill. Rev. Stat. 1979, ch. 38, par. 20-1

AI-generated summary from the opinion text — may contain errors. The opinion text and PDF above are the official record.

Headnotes

  1. NEIL F. HARTIGAN, Attorney General (FAITH S. SALSBURG, Assistant Attorney General, of counsel), for Respondent.
  2. CRIMEVICTIMSCOMPENSATION Am-buds for determining loss o f earnings. The loss of earnings for purposes of a claim under the Crime Victims Compensation Act is determined on the basis of the victim’s average net monthly earnings for the six months immediately preceding the date of the injury or on $750.00 per month, whichever is less (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1983, ch. 70, par. 72(h)).
  3. Sm-deductions allowed from all claims. The amount of benefits, payments or awards payable under the Workers’ Compensation Act, Dram Shop Act, Federal Medicare, State public aid, Federal Social Security Administration burial benefits, Veterans Administration burial benefits, health insurance, or any other source, except annuities, pension plans, Federal Social Security payments payable to dependents of the victim and the net proceeds of the first $U,O00.0of 0 life insurance, and $ux),except in the case of victims 65 years of age or older, must be deducted from all claims.
  4. Su-aggravated arson-net loss less than $200-claim denied. The Claimant suffered a loss as the victim of aggravated arson, but her claim for compensation was denied, since her net loss was less than $200,and the Crime Victims Compensation Act limits the right of compensation to persons who have suffered a pecuniary loss of $200 or more attributable to a violent crime.

This claim arises out of an incident that occurred on October 21, 1982. Nancy L. Henert, Claimant, seeks compensation pursuant to the provisions of the Crime Victims Compensation Act, hereafter referred to as the Act. Ill. Rev. Stat. 1979, ch. 70, par. 71 etseq.

This Court has carefully considered the application [*447]

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for benefits submitted on April 11, 1983, on the form prescribed by the Attorney General, and an investiga- I

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tory report of the Attorney General of Illinois which I substantiates matters set forth in the application. Based I upon these documents and other evidence submitted to ~ the Court, the Court finds: I

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1. That the Claimant, Nancy L.,Henert, age W , was a victim of a violent crime, as defined in section 2(c) of the Act, to wit: aggravated arson. Ill. Rev. Stat. 1979, ch. I 38,.par. 20-1.

2. That on October 21, 1982, the victim was overcome by smoke due to a fire which was set in her

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apartment building. The incident had occurred at the victim’s residence Iocated at 1416 East State, Rockford, Illinois. Police and fire investigators had classified the fire as aggravated arson. The victim was taken to Saint Anthony Hospital for treatment. The offender in this I

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case was apprehended and convicted of aggravated arson. 1

3. That the Claimant seeks compensation for loss of earnings only. All medical bills were paid by insurance.

4. That the Claimant was employed by Walter Lawson Children’s Home prior to the injury and her average monthly earnings were $667.47. Claimant was disabled and unable to work from October 21, 1982, to November 12,1982, for a period of 16 working days. I

5. That section 2(h) of the Act states that loss of earnings shall be determined on the basis of the victim’s average net monthly earnings for the six months I immediately preceding the date of the injury or on $750.00 per month, whichever is less. I

6. That based on $667.47 per month, the maximum [*448] compensation for loss of earnings for 16 working days is $485.43.

7. That .the Claimant has complied with all pertinent provisions1 of the Act and qualifies for compensation thereunder.

8. That pursuant to section lO.l(e) of the Act, this Court must deduct $200.00 from all claims (except in the case of an applicant 65 years of age or older), and the amount of benefits, payments or awards payable under the Workers’ Compensation Act, Dram Shop Act, Federal Medicare, State public aid, Federal Social Security Administration burial benefits, Veterans Administration burial benefits, health insurance, or from any other source, except annuities, pension plans, Federal Social Security payments payable to dependents of the victim and the net proceeds of the first $25,000.00 (twenty-five thousand dollars) of life

’ insurance that would inure to the benefit of the applicant.

9. That the Claimant has received $285.71 in disability benefits.

10. That the Claimant’s net loss for which she seeks compensation is $199.72.

11. That section lO.l(e) of the Act limits the right of compensation to persons who have suffered a pecuniary loss of $200.00 or more attributable to a violent crime resulting in the injury or death of the victim.

12. That this claim does not meet a required condition precedent for compensation under the Act.

It is hereby ordered that this claim be, and is hereby denied.

[*449] 4 449

ORDER ON REQUEST FOR REVIEW

POCH,J.

This cause comes on to be heard on the petitioner's request for a review of our decision of August 29,1984. I

On November 10, 1984, Claimant informed Com- II missioner Simpson that she did mot wish to pursue this I matter any further.

It is hereby ordered that said request be, and hereby is, denied.

Official volume 37 (Containing cases in which opinions were filed and orders of dismissal entered, without opinion for: Fiscal Year 1985 – July 1, 1984–June 30, 1985)  ·  All opinions in this volume  ·  Also on CourtListener

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