Retaliatory discharge case against Talley Chiropractic settles

A woman who claims she lost her job after she hired an attorney to help file for workers’ compensation benefits has settled a lawsuit against Talley Chiropractic of Granite City.

Laura Wilson of Pocahontas sued in 2012 in Madison County claiming the grounds for her termination in 2011 were pretext for terminating her for having exercised her rights under the Workers’ Compensation Act.

Her case was set to go to trial May 19, but according to an order signed by Circuit Judge Barbara Crowder on May 5, the parties announced the case settled.

Wilson had claimed that after suffering a work related injury, her employer referred her to an orthopedic surgeon who recommended carpal tunnel surgery to both wrists.

She claimed that the defendants agreed to pay for the medical costs as well as any time off Wilson would need. However, the defendants did not have workers’ compensation insurance at the time, she claimed.

The day before a second surgery, Wilson was told that her employer would not be paying her all the benefits she was entitled to receive under the Workers’ Compensation Act. In turn, Wilson hired a lawyer, the suit stated.

In her complaint, Wilson sought a judgment of more than $150,000, plus punitive damages of more than $3 million and costs.

Mark S. Schuver of Mathis, Marifian and Richter in Belleville represented Wilson.
A status conference is set June 25.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 12-L-1909.