{
  "id": 5326931,
  "name": "In Re Application of Karen Koumoundouros",
  "name_abbreviation": "In re Koumoundouros",
  "decision_date": "1979-06-27",
  "docket_number": "Case No. 00137",
  "first_page": "1042",
  "last_page": "1044",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "32 Ill. Ct. Cl. 1042"
    }
  ],
  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "Ill. Ct. Cl.",
    "id": 8793,
    "name": "Illinois Court of Claims"
  },
  "jurisdiction": {
    "id": 29,
    "name_long": "Illinois",
    "name": "Ill."
  },
  "cites_to": [],
  "analysis": {
    "cardinality": 178,
    "char_count": 2262,
    "ocr_confidence": 0.803,
    "sha256": "4ab071f282c21e73d530e6f444579cb2abeb42b48a56e0836739ef775142a31c",
    "simhash": "1:8b68917405f478d8",
    "word_count": 377
  },
  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T16:54:10.322906+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "In Re Application of Karen Koumoundouros."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "Holderman, J.\nClaimant in this matter is the widow of a police officer who was killed on September 7, 1977, while employed as a bank guard for the 1st National Bank of Lincoln wood, Lincolnwood, Illinois.\nOn October 23,1972, the deceased provided a beneficiary form in which Claimant\u2019s widow was designated the sum of $5,000.00 and his two sons were designated the sum of $5,000.00. At the time the deceased provided the beneficiary form, the total benefit was $10,000.00 and provision was made for this amount.\nOn January 1, 1974, benefits to survivors (beneficiaries) were substantially increased from $10,000.00 to $20,000.00.\nThe deceased did not make any change in his beneficiary form and the question now before the Court is who is entitled to the additional $10,000.00 provided for by the increase in the death benefit.\nIn the amendment, effective August 31, 1976, Ch. 48, Sec. 283(a), the following language appears:\n\u201c(a) When there is a surviving spouse, the entire sum shall be paid to the spouse. ..\u201d .\nThe facts available show that Karen Koumoundouros is the surviving spouse of the deceased officer, James Koumoundouros.\nBy reason of the statutory increase, there remains $10,000.00 to be awarded by the Court, and that $10,000.00 could not have been subject to the beneficiary form above noted. The statute is clear in providing that the \u201centire sum shall be paid to the spouse.\u201d Here, under the facts, the \u201centire sum\u201d of necessity refers to any portion of the statutory amount not designated by the officer in the beneficiary form.\nIt is fundamental and does not require the citation of authority that in construing a statute the words used will be given their plain meaning and, if possible, will be so construed as to give effect to the legislative intent. In short, with this enactment, there is no ambiguity, and there is no need to construe, or to search the language used by the General Assembly in an effort to give effect to the legislative intent.\nIt is hereby ordered that Claimant, Karen Koumoundouros, be awarded the sum of $15,000.00, and the deceased\u2019s sons, James Koumoundouros II and Mark Koumoundouros, be awarded the sum of $2,500.00 each.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "Holderman, J."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "(Case No. 00137\nIn Re Application of Karen Koumoundouros.\nOpinion filed June 27, 1979."
  },
  "file_name": "1042-01",
  "first_page_order": 1156,
  "last_page_order": 1158
}