{ "id": 4264912, "name": "ERIC McKEE, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE CHAMPAIGN POLICE PENSION FUND et al., Defendants-Appellees", "name_abbreviation": "McKee v. Board of Trustees", "decision_date": "2006-09-07", "docket_number": "No. 4\u201405\u20140943", "first_page": "538", "last_page": "547", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "367 Ill. App. 3d 538" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "536 N.E.2d 155", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1989, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "180 Ill. App. 3d 683", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2615396 ], "year": 1989, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/180/0683-01" ] }, { "cite": "827 N.E.2d 522", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2005, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "524" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "356 Ill. App. 3d 952", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3749472 ], "year": 2005, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "955" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/356/0952-01" ] }, { "cite": "788 N.E.2d 1196", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2003, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1200" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "338 Ill. App. 3d 490", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 25411 ], "year": 2003, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "494-95" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/338/0490-01" ] }, { "cite": "828 N.E.2d 282", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2005, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "same" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "215 Ill. 2d 620", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "year": 2005, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "same" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "828 N.E.2d 277", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2005, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "dismissing appeal and remanding for appellate court to consider whether board's denial of benefits may be confirmed on the ground that plaintiff failed to prove his disability" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "214 Ill. 2d 521", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 8451463 ], "year": 2005, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "dismissing appeal and remanding for appellate court to consider whether board's denial of benefits may be confirmed on the ground that plaintiff failed to prove his disability" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/214/0521-01" ] }, { "cite": "621 N.E.2d 986", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "991" }, { "page": "991" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "251 Ill. App. 3d 119", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2958150 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "126-27" }, { "page": "127" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/251/0119-01" ] }, { "cite": "833 N.E.2d 427", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 2005, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "437" }, { "page": "438" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "359 Ill. App. 3d 224", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5595243 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2005, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "236" }, { "page": "236" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/359/0224-01" ] }, { "cite": "807 N.E.2d 1276", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 4, "year": 2004, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1289" }, { "page": "1289" }, { "page": "1288" }, { "page": "1289" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "347 Ill. App. 3d 713", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3949330 ], "weight": 4, "year": 2004, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "729" }, { "page": "729" }, { "page": "727-28" }, { "page": "729" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/347/0713-01" ] }, { "cite": "776 N.E.2d 840", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "847" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "333 Ill. App. 3d 792", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 485732 ], "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "799" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/333/0792-01" ] }, { "cite": "692 N.E.2d 295", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "302" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "181 Ill. 2d 191", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 821407 ], "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "205" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/181/0191-01" ] }, { "cite": "836 N.E.2d 705", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 4, "year": 2005, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "719" }, { "page": "725" }, { "page": "729" }, { "page": "727" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "361 Ill. App. 3d 1", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 4259471 ], "weight": 4, "year": 2005, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "16" }, { "page": "23" }, { "page": "29" }, { "page": "27" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/361/0001-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 949, "char_count": 21152, "ocr_confidence": 0.775, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.8258001464992802e-07, "percentile": 0.7199603142885936 }, "sha256": "293caf2912c9474868924827c89a9d447a97aa2b7f6968171bb3a446b475201c", "simhash": "1:337401b06f8766c1", "word_count": 3381 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T20:55:49.400377+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "ERIC McKEE, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE CHAMPAIGN POLICE PENSION FUND et al., Defendants-Appellees." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "JUSTICE COOK\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nPlaintiff, Eric McKee, a Champaign police officer, filed an application for disability benefits with the Board of Trustees of the Champaign Police Pension Board (Board). On May 21, 2003, the Board denied his application. Plaintiff filed a complaint for administrative review. The circuit court affirmed the Board\u2019s decision on October 13, 2005. Plaintiff appeals. We affirm.\nI. BACKGROUND\nAt approximately 9:30 p.m. on September 15, 1998, plaintiff and other officers attempted to place a combative suspect in the rear of a squad car. Plaintiff testified that the morning of September 16 he woke up with severe back pain but did not associate the pain with picking up the suspect the night before. He called in sick for his shift that was to begin at 3 p.m. He called Dr. Robert Healy\u2019s office but was unable to get an appointment until September 18.\nOn September 18, plaintiff saw K. Smitlyn, the nurse-practitioner at Dr. Healy\u2019s office. Smitlyn\u2019s notes state, \u201cNo known injury, but he did lift a man into his patrol car 2 days prior \u2014 no pain at that time. Played golf the next day and felt fine til he woke up the following day.\u201d Plaintiff testified he did not play golf September 16 and did not tell Smitlyn that he had; when Smitlyn asked about his exercise and recreational activities, plaintiff told her he played golf and was a scuba diver. Smitlyn wrote a note excusing plaintiff from work until September 21 and told him to take ibuprofen and call if he was not better in two weeks. On November 5, plaintiff saw Healy. On November 11, plaintiff underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The MRI indicated a bulging disc and a problem with the exiting nerve root. Plaintiff thereafter began to work light duty; in February 1999, he stopped working for the police department entirely.\nOn November 6, 1998, plaintiff filed a duty-injury report, stating he injured his lower back carrying the suspect on September 15 but did not realize he had hurt himself until the morning of September 16. He wrote that he had not filed a duty-injury report at that time because he believed the injury would heal after a few days. On April 23, 1999, plaintiff filed an application for disability benefits with the Board.\nFrom November 1998 through August 2000, plaintiff saw nine physicians and two chiropractors. On December 2, 1998, Dr. James J. Harms diagnosed a herniated disc at L4-L5 and saw \u201ca little premature degenerative disc disease.\u201d Harms indicated most people start improving within 6 to 12 weeks and recommended temporary measures to help plaintiff\u2019s pain. On March 28 or 29, 1999, Harms again saw plaintiff. He wrote plaintiff was getting better but signed a certificate of disability at that time. Harms saw plaintiff in June 1999, after plaintiff underwent an epidural steroid injection. Harms wrote that if another injection did not help, plaintiff was a good candidate for surgery. Plaintiff underwent a second epidural injection in August\n1999, which he reported aggravated his pain. On April 28, 2000, Harms wrote he could not tell how disabling plaintiffs injuries were; 80% of people with the condition get over it in a few months, but sometimes it takes longer.\nAt the request of the workers\u2019 compensation administrator, plaintiff saw Dr. Patrick A. Hogan on January 27, 1999. Hogan noted the MRI revealed a small disc herniation at L4-L5 on the left but concluded that \u201csome occurrence regarding his golf or something that might have happened during the night\u201d produced the disc herniation \u201csince he was asymptomatic for 48 or more hours from the lifting incident.\u201d In a May 23, 2000, report, Hogan noted plaintiff had indicated the suggestion he had played golf was incorrect.\nDr. M.R. Carlson saw plaintiff on April 8, 1999, and reported a \u201cpossible annular ligament tear/possible small disc herniation\u201d resulting in temporary disability. Carlson also signed a certificate of disability.\nPlaintiff saw Dr. Lawrence Leventhal on April 12, 1999. Leventhal reviewed the November 1998 MRI and diagnosed a bulging disc at L4-L5 on the left. He wrote, \u201cIt is medically probable that the injury on September 15, 1998, caused an annular tear to the disc at the L4[L]5 level ***.\u201d \u201cBased on [plaintiffs] history,\u201d Leventhal believed his current disability was a result of his employment. On August 16,\n2000, Leventhal examined plaintiff and completed a physician\u2019s certificate certifying plaintiff was disabled for service in the police department. Leventhal stated the herniated disc could be treated surgically and there was a 75% to 80% chance plaintiff could return to duty after six months of rehabilitation, although no guarantees could be made.\nPlaintiff was requested to see Dr. John Gragnani on April 18, 2000. Gragnani wrote plaintiff did not \u201cshow signs, either clinically or radiographically, of any particular changes that would explain the severe degree of pain he is reporting.\u201d Gragnini read Dr. Hogan\u2019s report and commented that plaintiff had not mentioned playing golf the morning after trying to lift the suspect into the patrol car. Gragnani recommended a second MRI and, after reviewing it, wrote there was nothing that would explain plaintiffs pain complaints and \u201c[n]o residual impairments or disabilities would be expected as a result of the injury of 9/15/98.\u201d\nOn April 24, 2000, the Board\u2019s attorney, Charles H. Atwell, Jr., wrote plaintiffs attorney, stating that the Board had designated Leventhal, Harms, Carlson, and Hogan as the selected physicians. See 40 ILCS 5/3 \u2014 115 (West 1998). On November 14, 2001, Atwell wrote that Carlson had retired but the remaining three physicians had provided medical reports. Atwell noted that Harms had indicated that plaintiff should be referred to an occupational-medicine specialist, and as that was Gragnani\u2019s specialty, Atwell suggested that Gragnani be designated as a selected physician, along with Harms, Hogan, and Leventhal.\nOn May 30, 2000, plaintiff saw Dr. Michael L. Gernant, who diagnosed low-back pain with a herniated disc and nerve-root compression. He wrote, \u201cAt this point, I don\u2019t think [plaintiff] is able to perform his duties as a police officer *** concerning the injury he sustained on 9/15/98.\u201d\nII. THE BOARD\u2019S DECISION\nOn May 21, 2003, the Board entered an order and decision denying plaintiff\u2019s request for disability benefits. Four members of the Board voted to deny benefits and one member abstained. The Board concluded plaintiff was not disabled, noting it \u201caccords great weight\u201d to Hogan and Gragnani\u2019s \u201cdetailed opinions.\u201d As an independent reason for denying plaintiffs claim, the Board also cited section 3 \u2014 115 of the Pension Code (40 ILCS 5/3 \u2014 115 (West 1998)), which requires that three physicians the Board selects must certify an applicant is, in fact, disabled. The Board found that of the four physicians it selected, Harms, Hogan, Leventhal, and Gragnani, only Leventhal and Harms suggested plaintiff was unable to perform his job as a police officer.\nIn an alternative holding, the Board stated that even if plaintiff had proved he is disabled, he did not establish the incident on September 15, 1998, was the cause of his alleged disability. The Board further noted plaintiff had made no request in the alternative for a nonduty-disability pension benefit.\nThe Board also remarked that plaintiff \u201ccontinues to disdain any surgery which has been recommended by Dr. Leventhal and Dr. Gernant, who have both expressed a likelihood of 80%-85% success rate, with the ultimate result to return to full service as a police officer.\u201d While the Board denied it considered plaintiff\u2019s decision to forego surgery in coming to its decision, it noted that \u201ceven the two physicians who have expressed their opinions that [plaintiff] is disabled from performing full service have stated that there is a high probability that minor surgery could relieve [p]laintiff of his alleged discomfort.\u201d\nPlaintiff filed a complaint for administrative review, and the circuit court affirmed. This appeal followed.\nIII. ANALYSIS\nA. Standard of Review\nJudicial review of the decision of the Board is governed by the Administrative Review Law. 735 ILCS 5/3 \u2014 101 through 3 \u2014 113 (West 2002). The factual findings of the administrative agency are considered to be prima facie correct (735 ILCS 5/3 \u2014 110 (West 2002)) and will be reversed only if against the manifest weight of the evidence. Questions of law are reviewed de novo. Marconi v. Chicago Heights Police Pension Board, 361 Ill. App. 3d 1, 16, 836 N.E.2d 705, 719 (2005). A mixed question of law and fact, however, is not reviewed de novo, but under the clearly erroneous standard. The clearly erroneous standard of review is \u201cbetween a manifest[-]weight[-]of[-]the[-]evidence standard and a de novo standard so as to provide some deference to the [agency\u2019s] experience and expertise.\u201d City of Belvidere v. Illinois State Labor Relations Board, 181 Ill. 2d 191, 205, 692 N.E.2d 295, 302 (1998).\nB. Section 3 \u2014 115\nPlaintiff argues that section 3 \u2014 115 of the Pension Code has not been complied with in this case. Section 3 \u2014 115 provides:\n\u201cA disability pension shall not be paid unless there is filed with the board certificates of the police officer\u2019s disability, subscribed and sworn to by the police officer if not under legal disability *** and by the police surgeon (if there be one) and 3 practicing physicians selected by the board. The board may require other evidence of disability.\u201d 40 ILCS 5/3 \u2014 115 (West 1998).\nThe certification requirement is an antifraud provision and serves the legitimate legislative goal of ensuring the integrity of the pension fund. Trettenero v. Police Pension Fund, 333 Ill. App. 3d 792, 799, 776 N.E.2d 840, 847 (2002).\nPlaintiff argues that, as a matter of law, the Board was required to find him disabled because three Board-selected physicians, Leventhal, Harms, and Carlson, signed certificates of disability. In response, the Board argues that Carlson had been replaced and that plaintiffs claim must accordingly be denied because only two physicians had certified that plaintiff was disabled. That argument was an alternative to the Board\u2019s primary finding that plaintiff was not disabled. Plaintiff also argues that Hogan and Gragnani, who examined him at the request of the city\u2019s workers\u2019 compensation management company, were not Board-selected physicians because he never stipulated that they were and because they did not sign certificates of disability. Plaintiff also argues, for the first time on appeal, that the Board\u2019s rules provide for the selection of only three physicians. He supplemented the administrative record with the Board\u2019s rules, which state that the Board \u201cshall designate up to three (3) physicians\u201d to examine the applicant.\nIf section 3 \u2014 115 were interpreted to require that the Board\u2019s three selected physicians unanimously declare an applicant disabled, one physician\u2019s opinion that an applicant was not disabled would ipso facto defeat a pension claim, thus rendering section 3 \u2014 115 a virtual summary-dismissal provision. Coyne v. Milan Police Pension Board, 347 Ill. App. 3d 713, 729, 807 N.E.2d 1276, 1289 (2004). (A similar concern arises if section 3 \u2014 115 is interpreted to mean that the mere existence of three certificates of disability automatically deems an applicant disabled, regardless of what other medical and nonmedical evidence reveals.)\n\u201cA pension board would have no use for an evidentiary hearing in such cases because, regardless of the weight of the claimant\u2019s evidence, and regardless of any credibility issues pertaining to the lone dissenting physician, the outcome of the case would be predetermined by the mere existence of a disagreement between witnesses.\u201d Coyne, 347 Ill. App. 3d at 729, 807 N.E.2d at 1289.\nThe Third District, in Coyne, found the board\u2019s summary dismissal for lack of three certificates to be unconstitutional and reversed and remanded the board\u2019s denial of benefits, agreeing with the circuit court that section 3 \u2014 115 only required three medical certificates \u201caddressing\u201d the applicant\u2019s disability status. Coyne, 347 Ill. App. 3d at 727-28, 807 N.E.2d at 1288. The Third District disagreed with Justice Schmidt\u2019s dissenting opinion that the board could simply appoint a fourth physician to get the necessary three certificates. Coyne, 347 Ill. App. 3d at 729, 807 N.E.2d at 1289.\nThe Second District, following remand from the supreme court, has found a board\u2019s determination that an applicant was not disabled to be against the manifest weight of the evidence but nevertheless affirmed the denial of benefits because the board did not receive three certificates of disability. The Second District agreed with Justice Schmidt\u2019s dissent. Under the clear language of section 3 \u2014 115, three physicians selected by the board must furnish certification that the applicant has a disability preventing him from performing any assigned duty or duties in the police service. Wade v. City of North Chicago Police Pension Board, 359 Ill. App. 3d 224, 236, 833 N.E.2d 427, 437 (2005). Nothing in the statute, however, precludes the board from appointing additional physicians to examine the applicant in an effort to secure the necessary three certificates. Wade, 359 Ill. App. 3d at 236, 833 N.E.2d at 438.\nThe First District disagreed with both the Coyne majority and with Justice Schmidt\u2019s dissent. Under Coyne, \u201cthe certification requirement is reduced to a mere empty formality \u2014 even three certificates stating that an applicant is not disabled would satisfy the statute.\u201d (Emphasis in original.) Marconi, 361 Ill. App. 3d at 23, 836 N.E.2d at 725. Justice Schmidt\u2019s suggestion that additional physicians be appointed, however, was viewed by the First District as too extensive a legislative revision. \u201cSuch attempted judicial interpolations would be in open contravention to the express language of the statute.\u201d Marconi, 361 Ill. App. 3d at 29, 836 N.E.2d at 729. In Marconi, two of the three board-selected physicians certified the plaintiff was disabled, as did a fourth physician, who was not selected by the board. However, because the board\u2019s finding of fact that the plaintiff was not disabled was clearly erroneous, the First District reversed the board\u2019s ruling, even though only two of the selected physicians had filed a certificate of disability.\nWe agree with previous decisions that an applicant cannot be awarded disability benefits unless three physicians have filed a certificate of disability. Daily v. Board of Trustees of the Police Pension Fund, 251 Ill. App. 3d 119, 126-27, 621 N.E.2d 986, 991 (1993). The three certificates are a precondition to the case going forward, and in a simple case, may provide an adequate basis for granting (or denying) a claim. If three certificates cannot be obtained, the claim may be summarily dismissed. Three certificates from board-selected physicians were obtained in this case, despite the fact that Carlson had retired. The presence of three certificates, however, is not dispositive. \u201cThe board may require other evidence of disability\u201d in addition to the three certificates. 40 ILCS 5/3 \u2014 115 (West 1998). Factual disputes cannot be resolved by the mechanical counting of certificates but must depend on findings made by the board. See Turcol v. Pension Board of Trustees of the Matteson Police Pension Fund, 214 Ill. 2d 521, 828 N.E.2d 277 (2005) (dismissing appeal and remanding for appellate court to consider whether board\u2019s denial of benefits may be confirmed on the ground that plaintiff failed to prove his disability); Wade v. City of North Chicago Police Pension Board, 215 Ill. 2d 620, 828 N.E.2d 282 (2005) (same).\nUnanimity among the three physicians selected by the board is not required. The Board may, in an appropriate case, select additional physicians who may file certificates. We do not read section 3 \u2014 115 to prohibit the Board\u2019s selection of more than three physicians to sign certificates, particularly in light of the language, \u201c[t]he board may require other evidence of disability\u201d in addition to the three certificates. 40 ILCS 5/3 \u2014 115 (West 1998). Section 3 \u2014 115 does not contain any formal procedure for the Board\u2019s selection of physicians. Selection is left to the Board\u2019s discretion, but that discretion may be abused where the Board chooses \u201cto preselect those doctors whose negative position on the issue of disability has been firmly established.\u201d Marconi, 361 Ill. App. 3d at 27, 836 N.E.2d at 727. There is no indication the Board\u2019s discretion was abused in this case. Harms, Carlson, and Leventhal were initially chosen by plaintiff and presented his point of view. Hogan and Gragnani appear to be well-qualified physicians, practicing in the particular field.\nCertificates of the police officer\u2019s disability, subscribed and sworn to by three practicing physicians, are necessary before a disability pension is paid, but there is no such requirement if the pension is not paid. Rizzo v. Board of Trustees of the Village of Evergreen Park Police Pension Fund, 338 Ill. App. 3d 490, 494-95, 788 N.E.2d 1196, 1200 (2003); Daily, 251 Ill. App. 3d at 127, 621 N.E.2d at 991. A physician who testifies that a police officer is not disabled cannot be expected to sign a certificate of disability.\nIn this case, the physician\u2019s certificates reveal only a part of the picture. Of the five physicians who were, at one time or another, designated as Board-selected, two flatly stated that plaintiff was not disabled. Two others, Carlson and Harms, certified that plaintiff was disabled, but their accompanying records indicate they believed plaintiffs injury was not severe. Viewing the totality of the evidence before the Board, we cannot say that its determination that plaintiff was not disabled is against the manifest weight of the evidence. The Board was not required to find plaintiff disabled simply because three physicians certified that he was.\nC. Other Arguments\nPlaintiff argues the Board improperly refused to consider a nonduty-disability pension. The Board, however, concluded that plaintiff did not prove the existence of a physical or mental disability rendering his retirement necessary. Even if plaintiff had specifically requested a nonduty-disability pension in the alternative, the Board could not have granted one. The fact that the Board noted plaintiff had not requested a nonduty-disability pension is of no significance here.\nPlaintiff claims he was denied due process when the Board conducted deliberations in a closed session in contravention of the Illinois Open Meetings Act (Act) (5 ILCS 120/2 (West 2004)) and the Board\u2019s own rules and regulations. One of the exceptions to the Act allows the consideration of:\n\u201c(4) Evidence or testimony presented in open hearing, or in closed hearing where specifically authorized by law, to a quasiadjudicative body, as defined in this Act, provided that the body prepares and makes available for public inspection a written decision setting forth its determinative reasoning.\u201d 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(4) (West 2004).\nIt would have been better if the Board had explicitly referred to this specific subsection, but generally calling attention to the exception was sufficient. Henry v. Anderson, 356 Ill. App. 3d 952, 955, 827 N.E.2d 522, 524 (2005). The Board\u2019s rules and regulations provide that, on motion, the Board may go to closed session pursuant to an exception set forth under the Act. The Board, therefore, did not violate its own rules and regulations by holding a closed meeting.\nPlaintiff claims he was denied due process because Atwell, the Board\u2019s attorney, acted as a hearing officer and a prosecutor, attended the closed session, participated in the Board\u2019s deliberations, and prepared the decision and order for the Board\u2019s members signatures, citing Thurow v. Police Pension Board, 180 Ill. App. 3d 683, 536 N.E.2d 155 (1989). The Board\u2019s attorney here cross-examined witnesses and made objections, but there is no evidence that he played a role in determining the outcome of the application or that plaintiff was otherwise denied a fair hearing.\nFinally, plaintiff challenges the Board\u2019s reference to his decision to forego surgery. Here, plaintiff\u2019s decision to forego back surgery was not unreasonable. There was no evidence that the surgery would be \u201cminor.\u201d Leventhal gave a 75% to 80% success rate but added that plaintiff would have to endure six months of rehabilitation \u201cwith no guarantees.\u201d Even so, the Board specifically stated that it did not take plaintiffs decision not to undergo surgery into consideration in making its determination.\nIV CONCLUSION\nFor the reasons stated, we affirm the trial court\u2019s judgment.\nAffirmed.\nSTEIGMANN and McCULLOUGH, JJ., concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "JUSTICE COOK" } ], "attorneys": [ "James L. Dobrovolny (argued), of Dobrovolny Law Offices, of Urbana, for appellant.", "Charles H. Atwell, Jr. (argued), of Atwell & Atwell, of Aurora, for appellees." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "ERIC McKEE, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE CHAMPAIGN POLICE PENSION FUND et al., Defendants-Appellees.\nFourth District\nNo. 4\u201405\u20140943\nArgued May 23, 2006.\nOpinion filed September 7, 2006.\nJames L. Dobrovolny (argued), of Dobrovolny Law Offices, of Urbana, for appellant.\nCharles H. Atwell, Jr. (argued), of Atwell & Atwell, of Aurora, for appellees." }, "file_name": "0538-01", "first_page_order": 556, "last_page_order": 565 }