Case Title: Little v. Muscogee (Creek) Nation

Citation: 

Docket Number: 87877

State: oklahoma

Court: Oklahoma Supreme Court

Date: 1997-04-29T00:00:00Z

Document:
Little v. Muscogee (Creek) Nation  Little v. Muscogee (Creek) Nation 1997 OK 57 938 P.2d 739 68 OBJ 1558 Case Number: 87877 Decided: 04/29/1997 Mandate Issued: 06/05/1997 Supreme Court of Oklahoma HARLEY LITTLE, Petitioner, v. MUSCOGEE ( CREEK ) NATION, STATE INSURANCE FUND, and the WORKERS' COMPENSATION COURT, Respondents. PROCEEDING TO REVIEW AN ORDER OF THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION COURT ¶0 Harley Little ( Little or claimant ) sought in the Workers' Compensation Court, James S. Porter, trial judge, an award for bodily injuries sustained in an automobile accident while employed by the Muscogee ( Creek ) Nation ( Nation). The State Insurance Fund ( Fund ), qua Nation's insurer, denied the injuries were employment-related and challenged the trial tribunal's cognizance of the proceeding. The trial judge ruled that the court "lacks subject-matter jurisdiction" over the claim. Claimant sought appellate review. The cause stands retained for this court's consideration and disposition. THE ORDER OF THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION COURT IS VACATED AND THE CAUSE REMANDED FOR FURTHER PROCEEDINGS CONSISTENT WITH THIS PRONOUNCEMENT. Tim Reese, Lawter & Pitts, Oklahoma City, OK For Petitioner Ronald E. Hignight, McGivern, Scott, Gilliard, Curthoys, & Robinson, Tulsa, OK, For Respondents Opala, J. [938 P.2d 741] ¶1 The dispositive question we are asked to decide today is whether an insurer who has issued a compensation policy may contest ( before the Workers' Compensation Court ) the insured's status as a covered employer. We answer in the negative. ¶2 Harley Little ( Little or claimant ) sought benefits after he was broadsided by another motorist while driving back to work for the Muscogee ( Creek ) Nation ( Nation ). Nation had secured a workers' compensation policy from the State Insurance Fund ( Fund ). Fund's answer denies that ( a ) the accident arose out of and in the course of Little's employment and that ( b ) claimant is entitled to benefits. Fund admits Nation stood insured for compensation. At the hearing Fund challenged the trial tribunal's cognizance over the claim against Nation because of the latter's sovereign-entity status, but stipulated to the applicable rate of compensation ( "should its jurisdictional objection be overruled "). The trial tribunal ruled that it lacks "subject-matter jurisdiction" because Nation "has not unequivocally expressly waived sovereign immunity by the purchase of Workers' Compensation Insurance coverage through the State Insurance Fund." ¶3 We hold Fund is statutorily estopped I. ¶4 The 65-year old claimant had worked for Nation more than six years. He occupied the position as one of four directors of community service, reporting to the principal chief of the tribe. On December 4, 1995 Little was asked to attend the funeral of a Creek citizen. Declining the chief's offer to ride with him, Little took his own car. While returning to the office he was hit by another vehicle. Claimant's pelvis was shattered and his left ear injured. Little brought a claim on December 27, 1995. ¶5 Fund's answer ( Form 10 ) admits Little's employment and Nation's compensation policy with Fund. ¶6 On April 30, 1996 the trial judge approved a $10,000.00 settlement between claimant and the driver of the other vehicle. Credit for this settlement against Fund's liability, if any it have, was to be decided at a later time. At the hearing, held on June 11, 1996, counsel stipulated the rate of compensation that applies to Little's claim. ¶7 Nation's benefits coordinator, who processed compensation claims for Nation's employees, testified that in her eight years of service, she was unaware of Nation ever interposing sovereign immunity to defeat a [938 P.2d 742] claim. At the time of the hearing, Fund was making payments on four claims by Nation's employees. ¶8 Claimant seeks review of the trial judge's July 2, 1996 adverse ruling. In his paperwork here Little urges that ( a ) the traffic accident occurred off the tribal premises and ( b) the Workers' Compensation Court has jurisdiction of his claim. Fund contends Nation ( a ) did not unequivocally waive its sovereign immunity for workers' compensation liability, ( b ) cannot be considered an "employer" within the meaning of 85 O. S. § 3 ( 3 ) II. ¶9 QUESTIONS CONCERNING AN EMPLOYER'S STATUS FOR COVERAGE UNDER WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW STAND ELIMINATED BY STATUTORY ESTOPPEL; AN INSURER WHO COLLECTS PREMIUMS UNDER AN ISSUED COMPENSATION POLICY(COMPUTED ON CLAIMANT'S WAGES) IS ESTOPPED TO DENY THE INSURED'S STATUS AS A COVERED EMPLOYER ¶10 Nation's status as a covered employer III. SUMMARY ¶16 The estoppel act , 85 O.S. 1991 §§ 65.2 and 65.3, which we invoke today sua sponte makes insurers liable-- regardless of the insured's status as a covered employer-- when it is established that--at the critical time of injury-- premiums computed on a claimant's wages were accepted under a policy insuring the employer against liability under the Workers' Compensation Act. ¶18 Fund's answer to Little's claim admits the existence of Nation's compensation insurance and claimant's employment by Nation. Implicit in Fund's stipulation as to Little's applicable compensation rate is its admission that premiums were paid on his wages at the time of the alleged accident. Fund's insistence that Little's injuries are not employment-related leaves that disputed issue to be decided in a post-remand adversary hearing. In short, the issue that remains to be settled on remand is whether Little's claimed accidental harm occurred in the course of and arose out of his employment with Nation. ¶19 THE ORDER OF THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION COURT IS VACATED AND THE CAUSE REMANDED FOR FURTHER PROCEEDINGS CONSISTENT WITH THIS PRONOUNCEMENT. ¶20 ALL JUSTICES CONCUR. FOOT