Dear Catra -

This may come as little consolation, but as I read some of the published and very "resultss orented" opinions that come out of the system, every appearace is given that Workers' Comp, like so much of Illinois government, is a rigged game, favoring those who can pay to play.

Personally, I think that the only solution would be a frontal attack on the state system in the federal courts, using an "as applied" due process challenge. But that would require convincing some clinical law profs at Northwestern that it's worth devoting 6 - 8 years of their lives to the project. Perhaps if their was some sort of a grass-roots media campaign from "mulked" (great word, check it out) claimants, something could happen, but sad to say, don't look to Springfield for any relief, or for that matter, the likes of the Tribune Co. for any favorable publicity.

Mike