Former employee of Burke Beverage seeks $200K in allegedly unpaid workers' comp benefits

A former employee of a beer and wine distributor based in McCook is suing over claims it stopped paying his disability benefits.

John Chlada filed a lawsuit April 4 in the Cook County Circuit Court against Burke Beverage Inc., citing an alleged violation of Illinois Workers' Compensation Act.

According to the complaint, Chlada was employed by the defendant on Oct. 23, 2002, when he was involved in an on-the-job accident that led him to file a workers' comp claim. Chlada asserts he was found to be totally disabled as a result of the accident and that Burke Beverage was required to pay him $862.80 per week.

The beverage company, the suit states, attempted to appeal the decision, but its appeal was untimely filed and thus, void. Chlada claims his former employer owes him disability benefits in the amount of $200,704.35.

Chlada is seeking that amount, as well as a weekly benefit amount of $730.42 for life. He is being represented by Chicago attorney James J. Marszalek of Marszalek & Marszalek.

Cook County Circuit Court Case No. 2014L004734.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at the Cook County Courthouse. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it only represents one side of the story.