{
  "id": 5316786,
  "name": "In re Application of Melba Jean Thomas",
  "name_abbreviation": "In re Thomas",
  "decision_date": "1981-08-31",
  "docket_number": "(No. 79-CV-0051",
  "first_page": "522",
  "last_page": "524",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "35 Ill. Ct. Cl. 522"
    }
  ],
  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "Ill. Ct. Cl.",
    "id": 8793,
    "name": "Illinois Court of Claims"
  },
  "jurisdiction": {
    "id": 29,
    "name_long": "Illinois",
    "name": "Ill."
  },
  "cites_to": [],
  "analysis": {
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    "char_count": 4015,
    "ocr_confidence": 0.754,
    "pagerank": {
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      "percentile": 0.472280623310471
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    "sha256": "a626927c388970da3996a4953e4b958c2fcf1482b88b82de5116c9776e576310",
    "simhash": "1:543bce5f10aa047d",
    "word_count": 657
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T20:23:43.791876+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "In re Application of Melba Jean Thomas."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "Poch J.\nThis claim arises out of an incident that occurred on July 22, 1978, in Pontiac, Illinois. Melba Jean Thomas, wife of the victim, William N. Thomas, seeks compensation pursuant to the provisions of the Crime Victims Compensation Act, hereafter referred to as the Act. Ill. Rev. Stat. 1977, ch. 70, par. 71 et seq.\nThis Court has carefully considered the application for benefits submitted on the form prescribed by the Court, and an investigatory report of the Attorney General of Illinois which substantiates matters set forth in the application. Based upon these documents and other evidence submitted to the Court, the Court finds:\n1. That the Claimant\u2019s deceased husband, William N. Thomas, age 48, was a victim of a violent crime as defined in section 2(c) of the Act, to wit: murder (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1977, ch. 38, par. 9 \u2014 1).\n2. That on July 22, 1978, William Thomas was stabbed to death by a prison inmate. The stabbing occurred during a riot at Pontiac Correctional Center. Claimant\u2019s husband was a correctional officer at the prison and was on duty when attacked. The victim was taken to St. Joseph\u2019s Hospital in Pontiac where he died from stab wounds to the heart.\n3. That the Claimant seeks compensation for medical expenses, funeral expenses and loss of support for herself and her minor child, Nelson, age 8.\n4. That Claimant incurred medical expenses in the amount of $326.15, all of which was paid by workmen\u2019s compensation.\n5. That Claimant incurred funeral expenses. for the victim in the amount of $2,522.00, $2,000.00 of which is deemed compensable by this Court.\n6. The victim was employed by Pontiac Correctional Center, prior to his death and his average monthly earnings were $768.54.\n7. The victim was 48 years of age at the time of .the crime. According to the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Vital Statistics of the United States, 1973, life tables, vol. II, his life expectancy would have been 27 years.\n8. That section of the Act states\u201e . . loss of support shall be \u25a0 determined on the basis of the victim\u2019s average' monthly earnings for the six months immediately preceding the date of the injury or on $500.00 per month, whichever is less.\u2019\u2019 ' . - ''\n9. That based on $500 per month, the maximum \u25a0 compensable loss of support for 27 years.is. $162\",000.00. \u2022 \u2022 \u25a0\n10. That section 7(d) of the Act provides for a deduction of $200 plus the amount of benefits, payments or awards payable under the Workmen\u2019s Compensation Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1977, ch. 48, par. 138.1 et seq.), from local governmental, State or Federal funds or from any other source, except .annuities, pension plans, Federal social security benefits and the net proceeds of the first $25,000.00 (twenty five thousand dollars) of life insurance paid or payable to the Claimant.\n11. That Claimant has received the following benefits as a result of her husband\u2019s death, $316,750.00 of which come under section 7(d) as applicable deductions:\n$ 45,000.00 Crown Life Insurance Death Benefits\n$ 20,000.00 Law Enforcement Officers\u2019 Compensation Act\n$ 25,000.00 Public Safety Officers Act\n$ 1,750.00 Workmen\u2019s Compensation Funeral Benefits\n$250,000.00 Workmen\u2019s Compensation Award\n12. That the Claimant\u2019s net loss for which she seeks compensation is as follows:\nCompensable loss of support $162,000.00\nNet medical expenses 0\nCompensable funeral expense 2,000.00\nTotal $164,000.00\nLess applicable deductions 316,750.00\nLess statutory deduction 200.00\nNet loss \u20140\u2014\n13. That section 3(b) of the Act limits the right of compensation to persons who have suffered a pecuniary loss of $200.00 or more attributable to a violent crime resulting in the death or injury of the victim.\n14. That the Claimant has not met a required condition precedent for compensation under the Act.\nIt is hereby ordered that this claim be and is hereby denied.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "Poch J."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Sidney E. Smith, for Claimant.",
      "Tyrone C. Fahner, Attorney General, for Respondent."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "(No. 79-CV-0051\nIn re Application of Melba Jean Thomas.\nOrder filed August 31, 1981.\nSidney E. Smith, for Claimant.\nTyrone C. Fahner, Attorney General, for Respondent."
  },
  "file_name": "0522-01",
  "first_page_order": 680,
  "last_page_order": 682
}