In re APPLICATION OF MALINDA WILSON.
Case summary
Claimant sought compensation under the Crime Victims Compensation Act for the death of her husband, Ronald Wilson, who was killed in a head-on collision caused by an intoxicated driver. The court found the claim compensable and awarded $15,000.00, to be paid in a lump sum and monthly installments.
Statutes cited: Ill. Rev. Stat. 1979, ch. 70, par. 71 et se9; Ill. Rev. Stat. 1979, ch. 38, par. 11-501; section 2(c) of the Act; section 2(h) of the Act; section 10.1(f) of the Act; section 10.1(e) of the Act; section 7.1(a)(7) of the Act; section 11.1 of the Act
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Headnotes
- NEIL F. HARTIGAN, Attorney General (ALISON P. BRESLAUER, Assistant Attorney General, of counsel), for Respondent.
- CRIME V I ~ MCSOMPENSATION Am-factors considered in determining loss of earnings. The loss of earnings for purposes of a claim under the Crime Victims Compensation Act is determined on the basis of the victim’s average net monthly earnings for the six months immediately preceding the date of the injury or on $750.00per month, whichever is less (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1983, ch. 70, par. 72(h)).
- SAME-deductions allowed from all chims. The amount of benefits, payments or awards payable under the Workers’.Compensation Act, Dram Shop Act, Federal Medicare, State public aid, Federal Social Security Adminisbation burial benefits, Veterans Administration burial benefits, health insurance, or any other source, except annuities, pension plans, Federal Social Security payments payable to dependents of the victim and the net proceeds of the first $W,OOO.00 of life insurance, and $200, except in the case of victims 65 years of age or older, must be deducted from all claims (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1979, ch. 70, par. 80.l(e)).
- SAME-installment payment of awards is permitted. The Crime Victims Compensation Act provides for the installment payment of awards under certain circumstances (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1979, ch. 70, par. 81.1).
- SAME-victim killed when vehicle struck by intoxicated ddvermaximum award granted surviving wife and children. A surviving wife and her children were granted the maximum award for funeral expenses and loss of support where the husband was killed when his vehicle was struck by a car being driven by an intoxicated person and that driver was convicted of driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, since the evidence established that the net loss after the statutory deductions exceeded the maximum allowable award of $15,000.00, and the payments were ordered to be made in installments.
This claim arises out of an incident that occurred on April 22, 1984. Malinda Wilson, wife of the deceased victim, Ronald Wilson, seeks compensation pursuant to the provisions of the Crime Victims Compensation Act, hereafter referred to as the Act. Ill. Rev. Stat. 1979, ch. 70, par. 71 et se9.
This Court has carefully considered the application for benefits submitted on January 21, 1985, on the form prescribed by the Attorney General, 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: 1. That the Claimant’s deceased husband, Ronald Wilson, age 26, was a victim of a violent crime as defined in section 2(c) of the Act, to wit: driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor, where the offender has been convicted of this offense. Ill. Rev. Stat. 1979, ch. 38, par. 11-501. 2. That on April 22, 1984, the victim was fatally injured when the car he was driving was struck head-on by a car driven by the offender, who was intoxicated.
The incident occurred at 113th and State Streets, [*489] II Chicago, Illinois. The victim was taken to Roseland Community Hospital where he expired a short time after arrival. The offender was apprehended and convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol. !
i 3. That the Claimant seeks compensation for
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funeral expenses and for loss of support for herself and I her minor children; Shawn Wilson, age 5, Jermaine Wilson, age 2, and Rachel Wilson, age 1.
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4. That the Claimant incurred funeral and burial expenses in the amount of $4,358.85. Pursuant to section 2(h) of the Act, funeral and burial expenses are
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compensable to a maximum award of $2,000.00.
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5. That the Claimant and her minor children, Shawn, Jermaine and Rachel Wilson, were totally
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dependent upon the victim for support. 6. That prior to his death, the victim was employed
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, by Spring/Borg Warner Corporation and his average monthly earnings were $1,078.08.
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7. That section 2(h) of the Act states’“’’ * loss of support shall be determined on the basis of the victim’s average net monthly earnings for the six months
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immediately preceding the date of the injury or on I $750.00 per month, whichever is less.” 8. That the victim was 26 years of age at the time of the crime. According to the U.S. Department of Health, i Education and Welfare, Vital Statistics of the United ~ States, 1978, Life Tables, volume 11, his life expectancy would have been 72 years. The projected loss of support for 46 years is $414,000.00, which is in excess of
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I $15,000.00 which is the maximum amount compensable i under section lO.l(f) of the Act. 9. That this claim complied with. all pertinent
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[*490] provisions of the Act and qualifies for compensation thereunder. 10. That pursuant to section lO.l(e) of the Act, this Court must deduct $200.00 from all claims (except in the case of an applicant 65 years of age or older), and the amount of benefits, payments or awards payable under the Workers’ Compensation Act, Dram Shop Act, Federal Medicare, State Public Aid, Federal Social Security Administration burial benefits, Veterans Administration burial benefits, health insurance, or from any other source, except annuities, pension plans, Federal Social Security payments payable to dependents of the victim and the net proceeds of the first $25,000.00 (twenty-five thousand dollars) of life insurance that would inure to the benefit of the applicant. 11. That the Claimant has received $27,000.00 in reimbursements from a life insurance policy as a result of the victim’s death, $2,000.00 of which can be counted as an applicable deduction under section 7.1(a)(7) of the Act. 12. That after making all the applicable deductions under the Act, the pecuniary loss resulting from the victim’s death is in excess of the $15,000.00 maximum allowed in section lO.l(f) of the Act. 13. That the Claimant’s interest would be best served if the award hereunder would be paid pursuant to the installment provision of section 11.1of the Act.
It is therefore, hereby ordered that the sum of $15,000.00 (fifteen thousand dollars) be and is hereby awarded to Malinda Wilson, wife of Robert Wilson, an innocent victim of a violent crime to be paid and disbursed to her as follows: [*1]
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$2,250.00 (two thousand two hundred fifty
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dollars) to be paid to Malinda Wilson in a lump I sum; , Seventeen (17) equal monthly payments of $750.00 (seven hundred fifty dollars) each to be paid to Malinda Wilson for the use and benefit of herself and minor children, Shawn, Jermaine and Rachel Wilson;
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In the event of the death or marriage of the Claimant or the Claimant’s children, it is the duty of the personal representative of the Claimant to inform this Court in writing of such death or marriage for the purpose of the possible modification of the award.