Illinois Partner Obtains Favorable Decision for Metal Fabricating Company in Workers’ Compensation Claim

Chicago Partner Jonathan Barrish successfully defended our metal fabricating client in a contested workers’ compensation arbitration before Administrative Law Judge Jeffrey Huebsch, of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission in Cook County, Illinois.

Claimant alleged that years of repetitive work-related activities, involving building pallets, caused or aggravated right hip arthritis that ultimately required him to undergo a total hip replacement. Claimant sought workers’ compensation benefits, claiming he sustained a repetitive trauma injury arising out of and in the course of his employment.

Litchfield Cavo’s defense attorney demonstrated that Claimant’s job duties were far more varied than alleged and that building pallets constituted only a small portion of his work activities. Through effective cross-examination of Claimant, testimony from the employer’s witnesses, and video evidence documenting Claimant’s actual job duties, our defense convinced the Administrative Law Judge that his work activities neither caused nor accelerated his hip arthritis or the need for total hip replacement surgery.

Our defense was further supported by the testimony of the employer’s Section 12 orthopedic expert Doctor, whose opinions the Administrative Law judge found more persuasive than those of Claimant’s treating physician. Based on the evidence presented, the Administrative Law Judge concluded that the Claimant failed to prove he sustained an accident arising out of and in the course of his employment or that his hip condition was casually related to his work activities.

On July 24, 2026 The Administrative Law Judge entered a decision in favor of our metal fabricating client, denying Claimant’s claim in its entirety.

Jonathan focuses his practice on workers’ compensation, employers’ liability, construction and employment law. He also handles general commercial and business litigation matters and provides training for managerial staff on handling post-accident investigations. He is a frequent lecturer for carriers and third-party administrators as well as self-insured employers on topics concerning Illinois workers’ compensation.