{ "id": 1352909, "name": "JANE E. FLYNN, Appellant, v. THE INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION et al. (Takata/Gateway, Inc., Appellee)", "name_abbreviation": "Flynn v. Industrial Commission", "decision_date": "1998-12-31", "docket_number": "No. 1\u201497\u20141586WC", "first_page": "695", "last_page": "704", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "302 Ill. App. 3d 695" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "253 Ill. App. 3d 462", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5423965 ], "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "469" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/253/0462-01" ] }, { "cite": "79 Ill. 2d 59", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3070290 ], "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "67" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/79/0059-01" ] }, { "cite": "86 Ill. 2d 544", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5468898 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1981, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "549" }, { "page": "549" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/86/0544-01" ] }, { "cite": "169 Ill. App. 3d 376", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3550101 ], "weight": 8, "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "382" }, { "page": "383" }, { "page": "383" }, { "page": "383" }, { "page": "383" }, { "page": "383" }, { "page": "384" }, { "page": "384" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/169/0376-01" ] }, { "cite": "262 Ill. App. 3d 324", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2849614 ], "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "331" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/262/0324-01" ] }, { "cite": "59 Ill. App. 3d 494", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3358589 ], "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "499" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/59/0494-01" ] }, { "cite": "100 Ill. App. 3d 48", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5501167 ], "year": 1981, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "54" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/100/0048-01" ] }, { "cite": "227 Ill. App. 3d 217", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5792598 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "219" }, { "page": "220" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/227/0217-01" ] }, { "cite": "168 Ill. App. 3d 959", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3512773 ], "weight": 4, "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "965" }, { "page": "964" }, { "page": "964" }, { "page": "964" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/168/0959-01" ] }, { "cite": "208 Ill. App. 3d 832", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2547915 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "836" }, { "page": "836" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/208/0832-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 912, "char_count": 19936, "ocr_confidence": 0.753, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.0672651645404614e-07, "percentile": 0.5586814134723684 }, "sha256": "796828b97953317a203c84d0a87aedb49cd006eed4507eb36dcb92f9880cddd1", "simhash": "1:edaf28920f4539a1", "word_count": 3141 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T17:49:29.885307+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "JANE E. FLYNN, Appellant, v. THE INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION et al. (Takata/Gateway, Inc., Appellee)." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "JUSTICE RAKOWSKI\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nClaimant, Jane E. Flynn, filed an application for adjustment before the Industrial Commission (Commission) pursuant to the Workers\u2019 Compensation Act (Act) (820 ILCS 305/1 et seq. (West 1996)), seeking death benefits from Takata/Gateway, Inc. (employer), for the death of her husband, Jackson Flynn (decedent). Decedent died as a result of an extensive myocardial infarction, or heart attack. Claimant argued that prolonged, chronic stress related to decedent\u2019s work was a causative factor of decedent\u2019s heart attack. The arbitrator found that claimant\u2019s heart attack arose out of and in the course of his employment. However, on review, the Commission reversed the arbitrator\u2019s decision, finding that the heart attack did not arise out of and in the course of his employment. Claimant appealed to the circuit court, which confirmed the Commission\u2019s decision. We have jurisdiction pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 301, allowing appeals from final judgments. 155 Ill. 2d R. 301. For the following reasons, we affirm.\nFACTS\nEmployer manufactures seat belts for automotive companies. Decedent was vice-president of material control and data processing when he died from a heart attack on July 30, 1989. Decedent was 55 years old.\nThere was no evidence before decedent\u2019s death that unequivocally showed he suffered from coronary heart disease. In 1984, decedent underwent a treadmill stress test the results of which were not entirely normal partly because decedent never reached his target heart rate. In 1988, decedent was approximately six feet four inches tall and weighed approximately 261 pounds; his cholesterol level was 146. Decedent\u2019s blood pressure was within normal range at 120 over 80. At the time of death, he was not taking any medications other than two aspirins daily. He did not smoke and drank alcohol occasionally. The only known factors that could have contributed to coronary heart disease in decedent\u2019s case were that decedent\u2019s father died from a myocardial infarction at age 55 and that decedent was moderately obese.\nFour months prior to death, decedent was subjected to a number of stressful circumstances of both a personal and work-related nature. In December 1988, decedent\u2019s pregnant daughter was diagnosed with Hodgkin\u2019s disease. The doctors were unable to treat the disease until \u2022after she gave birth. To lend support, claimant frequently visited their daughter in Alabama during the week and returned home for the weekends. In addition to decedent\u2019s daughter being ill, claimant was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 1989 and underwent a mastectomy soon after. Decedent\u2019s coworkers testified that decedent was very concerned about his daughter\u2019s and claimant\u2019s health during this time period.\nAt work, decedent was also subjected to stressful situations. In April and March 1989, employer, known as Gateway at that time, was being bought by Takata, Inc. Because Takata neither terminated the staff nor extended employment contracts to them, decedent was concerned about his job security.\nDecedent was also facing the busiest period of the year for employer. Each year when the automobile companies introduced new models, employer had to retool and redesign its seat belt components to satisfy the new automobile models. This period, stretching from June to August, was called the \u201claunch period\u201d or \u201cchange over.\u201d Because this time of year was so busy, vacations were frowned upon and discouraged. However, testimony showed that this year was not any busier than past years; rather, it was actually one of the easier launch periods employer had seen. Nevertheless, decedent\u2019s job during this period was demanding. He was not only responsible for ensuring that the components reached employer\u2019s factories on time for assembly, but he was also responsible for ensuring that the purchasers received the employer\u2019s product on time. However, decedent was not under any specific deadline or involved with any specific project other than launching the new product line as he did in previous years.\nTheodore Cunningham, decedent\u2019s assistant, testified that the computer system was antiquated and insufficient and that it crashed three times' during the 1989 launch period, causing delays. Other testimony from Frank Frick, former president of the company, and Alan Kromer, chief financial officer, asserted that the computer was sufficient for decedent\u2019s purposes, although inadequate for the accounting department. According to Kromer, decedent never complained that the computer system prevented him from doing his job.\nCunningham also intimated that decedent was held responsible for other departments\u2019 delays and mistakes that would ultimately affect his department\u2019s schedule. Nonetheless, other testimony established that decedent was not a \u201clightening rod\u201d for the company\u2019s problems and that he was not held responsible for situations out of his control.\nAlthough claimant and Cunningham testified that decedent worked longer hours during the launch period, other testimony established that decedent worked no more than his usual 8 a.m. to 5 or 5:15 p.m. day. Decedent also worked three or four hours on three out of four Saturdays per month, as he did throughout his career. Saturdays were days in which employees would clean their desks, update filing, or perform general administrative tasks. They were not typical work days.\nClaimant and Cunningham also recalled that decedent appeared tired during the 1989 launch period, although others testified that decedent appeared normal. According to claimant, decedent talked about work more than ever and that he was trying hard so the company would look good to the new owners. In February 1989, decedent quit taking lunchtime walks with Frank Frick, and he quit walking with claimant. Claimant also noted that he seemed to be gaining weight during the launch period.\nThe day before decedent died, Saturday July 29, 1989, decedent went to the office as usual and returned home early in the afternoon. No evidence suggests that decedent performed any unusual task.\nThe next day, decedent and claimant went to mass at 7 a.m. After mass, decedent did not feel well and was perspiring profusely. Decedent requested that claimant drive, at which time claimant took decedent to the hospital. Decedent also told claimant at that time that he had had chest pains on Saturday morning while at work.\nAn electrocardiogram performed at the hospital indicated an extensive myocardial infarction. As a result, a sizable portion of the anterior wall of decedent\u2019s heart was deprived of oxygenated blood. Within 45 minutes of his arrival, decedent went into cardiac arrest and could not be resuscitated.\nDr. Nathaniel Greenberg, board certified in internal medicine, testified on claimant\u2019s behalf. Through deductive reasoning, Dr. Green-berg concluded that the prolonged, chronic stress that decedent was subjected to at work accelerated atherosclerotic hardening of the coronary arteries leading to decedent\u2019s death. Dr. Greenberg ruled out obesity as a risk factor since decedent\u2019s weight of 261 pounds did not make him overly obese, and he also eliminated a high cholesterol level as a risk factor based upon the 1988 results of a level of 146. Furthermore, decedent did not smoke, he did not suffer from hypertension, nor did he have diabetes. Although he acknowledged that decedent\u2019s father\u2019s death due to coronary heart disease was an important factor and that genetics play an important role, he still believed that decedent\u2019s stressful work was a factor in his death. However, in making his deductive conclusion, Dr. Greenberg failed to consider that decedent\u2019s daughter was diagnosed with Hodgkin\u2019s disease or that claimant was diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer. On cross-examination, he conceded that, although acute stress has been identified as a causative factor of myocardial infarctions, prolonged, chronic stress has only recently been gaining acceptance as a causative factor.\nDr. Gerry A. Smythe, board certified in cardiology and internal medicine, testified for respondent and disagreed with Dr. Greenberg\u2019s assessment. Initially, Dr. Smythe noted that the treadmill stress test performed upon decedent in 1984 was not entirely normal. He believed that the test\u2019s reliability was undercut because decedent never reached his target heart rate. Furthermore, in 1985 when decedent had an appendectomy, an electrocardiogram showed some defects that could have been signs of coronary artery disease.\nWhile acknowledging that acute stresses have been shown to cause some types of myocardial infarctions and that such stress may be a risk factor, Dr. Smythe disagreed with Dr. Greenberg\u2019s opinion that prolonged, chronic stress can be a causative factor of myocardial infarctions. According to Dr. Smythe, prolonged, chronic stress has never been linked to causing myocardial infarctions and heart attacks. He explained that an acute stressor, a stressor that inflicts emotional or physical strain over a short period of time, can be a causative factor for certain types of myocardial infarctions. For example, if only a trickle of blood is passing through a coronary artery and the person becomes emotionally excited or performs a stressful physical act, this could cut off or overly decrease the supply of blood and nourishment to the cardiac muscle to cause a myocardial infarction. On the other hand, Dr. Smythe asserted that he knew of no study that has established a definite relationship between prolonged, chronic stress and myocardial infarctions. He further opined that the stress decedent was subjected to prior to his death was not out of the ordinary when compared to decedent\u2019s work habits spanning his career and that this routine would not be a factor in causing coronary heart disease.\nDr. Smythe specifically noted in his report that Dr. Greenberg failed to consider the stressors of decedent\u2019s daughter and wife contracting potentially fatal diseases within a very short period of time. According to Dr. Smythe, these stressors occurring within a short period of time have a greater impact on a person than any job situation. He also opined that other factors existed in decedent\u2019s case that are absolutely certain to contribute to coronary artery disease. Noting that decedent was mildly obese, Dr. Smythe asserted that obesity plays a part in the promotion of coronary disease. The most important factor, however, is family history. According to Dr. Smythe, that decedent\u2019s father died of a myocardial infarction at age 55 was a strong indicator that decedent had a predisposition for developing coronary artery disease.\nANALYSIS\nClaimant contends that the Commission erred by failing to find that decedent\u2019s heart attack arose out of and in the course of his employment. Specifically, claimant argues that prolonged, chronic stress directly related to work accelerated decedent\u2019s coronary heart disease and, therefore, contributed to his death.\nDetermination of whether an injury arose out of and in the course of employment is an issue of fact. Wheelan Funeral Home v. Industrial Comm\u2019n, 208 Ill. App. 3d 832, 836 (1991). It is the province of the Commission \u201cto determine the facts and draw reasonable inferences from competent evidence.\u201d Wheelan Funeral Home, 208 Ill. App. 3d at 836. Thus, it is the Commission\u2019s function \u201cto decide disputed questions of fact, including those of causation, and to resolve conflicting medical opinions.\u201d Vesco Ventilation & Equipment Sales v. Industrial Comm\u2019n, 168 Ill. App. 3d 959, 965 (1988). We will not disregard permissible inferences drawn by the Commission on the basis that different or conflicting inferences may also be drawn from the same facts nor will we substitute our judgment for that of the Commission unless its findings are against the manifest weight of the evidence. Martin v. Industrial Comm\u2019n, 227 Ill. App. 3d 217, 219 (1992). For a \u201c \u2018finding to be contrary to the manifest weight of the evidence, an opposite conclusion must be clearly apparent.\u2019 \u201d Drogos v. Village of Bensenville, 100 Ill. App. 3d 48, 54 (1981), quoting In re Application of County Collector, 59 Ill. App. 3d 494, 499 (1978). Accordingly, a reviewing court only determines whether sufficient evidence exists to support the Commission\u2019s decision. Cassens Transport Co. v. Industrial Comm\u2019n, 262 Ill. App. 3d 324, 331 (1994).\nClaimant bears the burden of establishing that decedent\u2019s heart attack arose out of and in the course of his employment. Vesco Ventilation & Equipment Sales, 168 Ill. App. 3d at 964. It is axiomatic that within this burden of proof there are two elements that must be shown. Whether decedent sustained his heart attack in the course of his employment depends \u201cupon the time, place and circumstance under which the accident occurred.\u201d Esco Corp. v. Industrial Comm\u2019n, 169 Ill. App. 3d 376, 382 (1988).\nIn the context of heart attacks, an attack may be compensable even though the employee suffers the attack while away from work. Doyle v. Industrial Comm\u2019n, 86 Ill. 2d 544, 549 (1981). The reason for this rule is that \u201ca myocardial infarction may become manifest only hours after the physical or emotional stress that triggered it.\u201d Doyle, 86 Ill. 2d at 549. Here, despite decedent\u2019s attack occurring on his day off, it occurred within a reasonable time after work to be deemed in the course of employment. Not only did decedent work the day before his attack, but symptoms of heart failure were manifest that day by way of chest pains.\nAs to the second element, whether decedent\u2019s heart attack arose out of his employment, claimant is required to prove that the heart attack was caused by some risk closely connected or incidental to the employment. Esco Corp., 169 Ill. App. 3d at 383. \u201cThe risk of injury must be peculiar to the work such that the employee is exposed to it to a greater degree than the general public by reason of the employment.\u201d Esco Corp., 169 Ill. App. 3d at 383. Consequently, work-related emotional stress must be higher than normal for it to be a \u201crisk\u201d or a causative factor of the heart attack. See Sears, Roebuck & Co. v. Industrial Comm\u2019n, 79 Ill. 2d 59, 67 (1980); Esco Corp., 169 Ill. App. 3d at 383; Vesco Ventilation & Equipment Sales, 168 Ill. App. 3d at 964. To determine whether the emotional stress was \u201chigher\u201d than normal, Illinois courts have compared the employee\u2019s stress to that which all workers are subjected to occasionally. Esco Corp., 169 Ill. App. 3d at 383.\nWhile claimant must prove that some act of employment was a causative factor to establish that the heart attack arose out of decedent\u2019s employment, claimant need not show that it was the sole or even the principal causative factor. Ingersoll Milling Machine Co. v. Industrial Comm\u2019n, 253 Ill. App. 3d 462, 469 (1993). To that end, a preexisting heart condition does not necessarily preclude compensation where the Commission \u201cmay legitimately infer from the evidence that the employee\u2019s work duties were a causative factor in the heart attack.\u201d Vesco Ventilation & Equipment Sales, 168 Ill. App. 3d at 964. Nevertheless, \u201c[a]n injury would not be compensable if it was the result of a risk personal to the employee or resulted from a hazard to which the employee would have been equally exposed apart from the employment.\u201d Esco Corp., 169 Ill. App. 3d at 383.\nIn the instant case, ample evidence supports the Commission\u2019s decision that work-related stress was not a causative factor leading to decedent\u2019s heart attack. The manifest weight of the evidence shows that decedent was faced with normal working conditions when compared to employment in general. Although claimant and Cunningham claimed decedent worked longer hours just prior to his death, other testimony indicated that he worked approximately nine hours per weekday and a few hours on Saturday. This reflects that decedent maintained his normal nine-hour work day during that period. Additionally, the work performed on Saturdays was light and administrative in nature. Although testimony showed that decedent succumbed to his heart attack during employer\u2019s busiest time of year, the \u201claunch period,\u201d many workers in numerous settings also face \u201cbusy\u201d periods that demand more time and effort as compared to other periods of the year. Consequently, decedent\u2019s work load prior to his death falls within the range of reasonableness when compared to employees in general.\nLikewise, any stress associated with the buy-out of employer and the uncertainty of decedent\u2019s job security also cannot be a basis for linking his heart attack to his employment. \u201cTransfers, demotions, new responsibilities, and layoffs or terminations are normal and expected conditions of employment life, along with the accompanying insecurity and worry.\u201d Esco Corp., 169 Ill. App. 3d at 384. See Martin, 227 Ill. App. 3d at 220. Consequently, the fear and tension of losing a job are not sufficiently greater than that faced by workers in general to make the heart attack compensable. Esco Corp., 169 Ill. App. 3d at 384.\nThe evidence also shows that decedent was under no more stress prior to his death than he was throughout his career with employer. Ample testimony indicates that the hours decedent worked prior to his death were approximately the same as those he worked throughout his career. Although the evidence shows that decedent was faced with the \u201claunch period,\u201d the busiest time for employer, it also shows that this period arose each year and that the 1989 \u201claunch period\u201d was an easy one compared to those in the past. Additionally, no evidence suggests that decedent was faced with burdensome deadlines or any particular projects other than the usual work associated with the launch period. Also unremarkable was decedent\u2019s last day of work. The record is devoid of evidence suggesting that decedent was confronted with any unusually strenuous or stressful occurrences.\nLastly, Dr. Smythe disagreed with Dr. Greenberg\u2019s opinion that prolonged, chronic stress to which decedent was allegedly subjected could have been a causative factor leading to his heart attack. Although noting that acute stress has been linked as a factor leading to heart disease, Dr. Smythe testified that prolonged, chronic stress, on the other hand, has never been proven to be a contributing factor in coronary heart disease. He further noted that if any stress was a factor in decedent\u2019s coronary disease, the stress associated with having two close family members diagnosed with terminal diseases would generally cause a more profound impact than anything decedent faced at the work place.\nDr. Smythe observed that, although decedent had very few conditions that would lead to heart disease, he found two nonstress-related ones that could be instrumental. Dr. Smythe suggested that decedent\u2019s obesity, though mild, still was a factor and that the death of decedent\u2019s father from a myocardial infarction was likely a major factor in causing decedent\u2019s heart attack. Thus, considering this evidence in conjunction with the evidence showing that decedent\u2019s work-related stress was not unusual, sufficient evidence exists supporting the conclusion that decedent\u2019s work-related stress was not a causative factor leading to his heart attack. As such, the Commission\u2019s decision is supported by the manifest weight of the evidence.\nCONCLUSION\nFor the foregoing reasons, the confirmation of the Commission\u2019s decision by the circuit court of Cook County is affirmed.\nAffirmed.\nMcCULLOUGH, EJ., and HUTCHINSON, HOLDRIDGE, and RARICK, JJ., concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "JUSTICE RAKOWSKI" } ], "attorneys": [ "Thomas G. King, of Chicago, for appellant.", "Wiedner & McAuliffe, Ltd., of Chicago (Frank J. Wiedner and Mark Matranga, of counsel), for appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "JANE E. FLYNN, Appellant, v. THE INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION et al. (Takata/Gateway, Inc., Appellee).\nFirst District (Industrial Commission Division)\nNo. 1\u201497\u20141586WC\nOpinion filed December 31, 1998.\nThomas G. King, of Chicago, for appellant.\nWiedner & McAuliffe, Ltd., of Chicago (Frank J. Wiedner and Mark Matranga, of counsel), for appellee." }, "file_name": "0695-01", "first_page_order": 713, "last_page_order": 722 }