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MADISON - ST. CLAIR RECORD

Friday, March 29, 2024

Illinois AG sues driver for work comp benefits paid in auto accident

Madigan

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Illinois Department of Central Management Services in which the department claims a driver struck one of its vehicles, which was parked on the side of the road.

In its complaint, the department alleges one of its employees, Vincent Basile Jr., had parked a truck owned by the department on the side of the road with its warning lights flashing on Oct. 27, 2009.

At the same time, defendant Calvin Field was driving south on Interstate 255 near mile post 13 in Centreville when he swerved his car into a guardrail, according to the complaint filed Oct. 19 in St. Clair County Circuit Court. Field's vehicle then "ricocheted off the guard rail and into the right side of the vehicle driven by Karl Reinhold whom then bounced off of the center median barrier and then collided with the vehicle being driven by Vincent A. Basile, Jr," the suit states.

Because of the collision, which occurred while Basile was working, the Illinois Department of Central Management Services was forced to pay Basile workers' compensation benefits, the complaint says.

The department blames Field for causing the collision, saying he negligently failed to keep a proper lookout, failed to reduce his speed to avoid a collision, drove without liability insurance and drove his vehicle in multiple lanes.

In its complaint, the Illinois Department of Central Management Services seeks a judgment of $104,362.55, plus costs.

Thomas C. Soraghan of the attorney general's office in Belleville will be representing it.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 11-L-592.

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