Illinois High Court Expands Mesothelioma WC Claim

• Employers defending occupational disease claims in Illinois can expect significant changes as a result of the Illinois Supreme Court’s Jan. 24 ruling in Martin v. Goodrich Corp., according to multiple outlets.
• The ruling means that diseases appearing years after occupational exposure to harmful substances, such as asbestos, can be covered under workers’ compensation benefits, according to Mesothelioma.net.
• The decision last month upheld the constitutionality of a 2019 amendment to the Illinois Workers’ Occupational Diseases Act and confirmed that plaintiffs can file civil claims after the 25-year statute of repose period for asbestos claims under Workers’ Compensation has expired.
• “This decision will have a far-reaching impact throughout toxic tort litigation as it allows employees to pursue civil claims against their employers even if their Workers’ Compensation claim would otherwise be barred,” lawyers at Husch Blackwell LLP wrote.
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