{
  "id": 206598,
  "name": "Edward Anthony Zanghi, Claimant, v. The State of Illinois, Department of Corrections, Respondent",
  "name_abbreviation": "Zanghi v. State",
  "decision_date": "1998-12-04",
  "docket_number": "No. 97-CC-1359",
  "first_page": "364",
  "last_page": "367",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "51 Ill. Ct. Cl. 364"
    }
  ],
  "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": 299,
    "char_count": 4152,
    "ocr_confidence": 0.812,
    "sha256": "6139ca3439f71cc167253a4f9bf5fd07d7b140b3994c80796ec36507aebf1d16",
    "simhash": "1:736e6b6ff2b68698",
    "word_count": 668
  },
  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T20:39:21.929612+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "Edward Anthony Zanghi, Claimant, v. The State of Illinois, Department of Corrections, Respondent."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "OPINION\nEpstein, J.\nThis claim is before the Court for final decision after trial before our Commissioner. Claimant Edward Anthony Zanghi\u2019s complaint against the Department of Corrections (\u201cIDOC\u201d) seeks reimbursement, as an IDOC employee, for damage to his personal property allegedly suffered in the fine of duty, in the amount of $185.\nTrial was held December 18, 1997. Claimant appeared and testified that on June 20, 1996, he was employed by IDOC as a parole officer. Claimant asserts that he was acting pursuant to his employment at all times material. Mr. Zanghi testified that he parked his State vehicle outside the IDOC\u2019s Special Intensive Supervision Unit within view of the facility\u2019s security cameras, and that sometime between 7:20 and 8:20 a.m. an unknown person broke the vehicle\u2019s window and stole his personal property which he identified and valued as follows:\nNylon Suitcase $ 35\nCalculator $ 15\nRolodex-electronic diaiy & memory pad $ 65\nFlashlight $ 10\nPersonal Pager $ 35\nStationery supplies, Cross pen set $ 25\nTotal Value $185\nClaimant filed a claim with the IDOC Claims Committee, which denied his claim for failure to establish that the theft was the direct act of an inmate.\nAt the hearing, Claimant Zanghi cited the union contract between IDOC and its parole agents, particularly article XXV, section 5, which provides as follows:\n\u201cSection 5. Damage to Personal Property\nIn accordance with the current agency practices and the amounts provided for thereunder, Employees shall be reimbursed for the cost of any personal property destroyed or damaged in the line of duty. The Employer will also endeavor to provide a secure place for storing wearing apparel.\nUpon request, agency labor/management meetings may review the establishment or revision of conditions for reimbursing employee claims deriving from damages to or destruction of personal property articles, by the direct action of residents or clients against the person of the employee, including time limits for reporting and rates of reimbursement.\u201d\nThe union contract and the administrative directive 01.02.122 referred to in the Department Claims Committee proceedings refer specifically to the reimbursement for loss or damages deriving from the direct action of residents or clients. Although it is arguable that the language of the union contract, standing alone, might be susceptible to a broader reading, it is difficult to perceive a clear application of the contract language, \u201cdestruction] or damage[] in the fine of duty,\u201d to encompass any loss suffered by an IDOC employee merely because he or she was on duty at the time. Even without the referenced \u201cagency practices,\u201d it is apparent that \u201cin the line of duty\u201d refers to the event that caused the property loss or damage.\nThere is simply no evidence in this case that any loss or damage to the Claimants property was suffered \u201cin the line of duty.\u201d In this case the offender was, and is, unknown, as are the circumstances of the theft or loss itself. Moreover, although the Claimant may well have been \u201con duty\u201d at the time, the incident took place outside the institution which makes it at least unlikely that the loss occurred \u201cin the line of duty\u201d or that a resident or client was the perpetrator as IDOC maintains to be necessary.\nClaimant contends that the IDOC had a video surveillance camera which would have taped the incident and the offender had it been working on the day of the theft. However, the Claimant failed to establish that IDOC had a legal duty to protect Claimants personal property in a parked vehicle, or anywhere else, outside of a State facility. The camera is irrelevant.\nOn the evidence presented, this Claimant has failed to prove any claim against IDOC, and accordingly, this claim must be denied. For the reasons set forth above, it is hereby ordered: this claim is denied, and forever barred.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "Epstein, J."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Edward Anthony Zanghi, pro se.",
      "Jim Ryan, Attorney General (Michael Rocks, Assistant Attorney General, of counsel), for Respondent."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "(No. 97-CC-1359\nEdward Anthony Zanghi, Claimant, v. The State of Illinois, Department of Corrections, Respondent.\nOpinion filed December 4, 1998.\nEdward Anthony Zanghi, pro se.\nJim Ryan, Attorney General (Michael Rocks, Assistant Attorney General, of counsel), for Respondent."
  },
  "file_name": "0364-01",
  "first_page_order": 560,
  "last_page_order": 563
}