Nursing Home Engineer Receives $200K for Workers Comp Settlement

The workers’ compensation attorneys at Lipkin & Higgins were contacted by M.P., a 39-year-old nursing home maintenance engineer earning approximately $40,000 a year who injured his back in 2008 lifting a bed at work. The nursing home where M.P. worked originally denied his claim, alleging he injured his back outside of work. Consequently, disability benefits were denied.

Following a spinal fusion, M.P. returned to work. Several weeks later, he re-injured his back at the nursing home and was forced to undergo another spinal fusion. This time, his employer paid for his medical treatment and temporary total disability as required by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act. Approximately one year after his second surgery, M.P.’s pain continued to the point where his doctor advised against returning to regular full-duty work. Instead, he was told he could return to permanent light-duty work, something he was not interested in.

Lipkin & Higgins negotiated a settlement of M.P.’s workers’ compensation claim that required his employer to pay for any future medical treatment he might need and a lump sum payment in the amount of $200,000. M.P.’s plan was to go back to school, learn new job skills and obtain employment in a field where physical labor is not necessary. He is enthusiastic about prospects for his “new life” and relieved that his back and leg pains have gone away.