Ex-alderman's son was off work 9 years
The only son of the late Ald. Roman Pucinski got more than $320,000 in disability payments since reporting he was injured at work in September 1996, just six weeks after landing his last city job.
How did Pucinski get hurt? The city can't find an accident report, which Pucinski should have filed within five days to get workers compensation benefits.
The city settles most workers comp cases. But Pucinski didn't have a claim to settle: He never filed a workers comp claim with the State of Illinois.
"There was no need to because he was receiving benefits,'' Pucinski's lawyer, George Cullen, said.
Pucinski's sister, Cook County Circuit Judge Aurelia Pucinski, said her brother "hurt his back digging a hole for the water department. He was under doctor's care. I know he was in constant pain.''
Pucinski got his first city job driving a steamroller in 1978. Over the next 18 years, he went on disability leave three times -- but never filed any injury claims. He was also suspended from work seven times before being "discharged" in February 1996, records show.
A few months later, he got a job as a laborer in the water department, after his father went to bat for him, according to the "clout list" Mayor Daley's patronage director kept. Six weeks later, Pucinski went on disability leave and never returned. He died in a fire February 2006 at his home.
Tim Novak