Case Title: Andrews v. Nu-Woods, Inc.

Citation: 264 S.E.2d 99, 299 N.C. 723

Docket Number: 

State: north-carolina

Court: North Carolina Supreme Court

Date: 1980-04-01T00:00:00Z

Document:
264 S.E.2d 99 (1980) 299 N.C. 723 Betty W. ANDREWS, Widow, and Guardian ad Litem of Sylvia Denise Andrews, Minor Child, Dolf Otis Andrews, Deceased, v. NU-WOODS, INC., Employer, and International Insurance Co., Carrier. No. 42. Supreme Court of North Carolina. April 1, 1980. *100 Hatcher, Sitton, Powell & Settlemyer by Steve B. Settlemyer, Morgantown, for Betty W. Andrews and Sylvia Denise Andrews, plaintiffs-appellees. Hedrick, Parham, Helms, Kellam, Feerick & Eatman by Hatcher B. Kincheloe, Charlotte, for Nu-Woods, Inc., and International Ins. Co., defendants-appellants. BROCK, Justice. The sole question presented by this appeal is the amount of compensation to which plaintiffs are entitled as a result of the death of Dolf Otis Andrews, caused by an accident arising out of and in the course of his employment with defendant Nu-Woods, Inc. Defendants argue, relying on N.C. G.S. 97-38, that plaintiffs' weekly recovery be limited to a maximum of $80.00 for the 400 week compensable period. In its pertinent part G.S. 97-38 provides as follows: On the other hand, plaintiffs contend, and the Court of Appeals and Commission so held, that N.C. G.S. 97-29 as amended in 1973 (1973 Session Laws, Chapter 1103) requires that plaintiffs receive benefits at an increased weekly rate. The amendment to G.S. 97-29 provides: The Commission determined that by computing benefits as per G.S. 97-29, plaintiffs are entitled to weekly benefits in the amount of $158.00. There is no issue raised by this appeal as to the plaintiffs' right to receive death benefits as per G.S. 97-38. The only question raised concerns the appropriate amount of such death benefits. For the reasons that follow we hold that the Commission correctly concluded that G.S. 97-29 as amended, entitled plaintiffs to receive weekly death benefits in the amount of $158.00 per week for the period of 400 weeks. In School Commissioners v. Aldermen, 158 N.C. 191, 196, 73 S.E. 905, 907 (1912), this Court noted: In reading the language of G.S. 97-29, we conclude that the words of the 1973 amendment are explicit in terms and plain of meaning requiring that we give effect to the law as written. As noted above, the amendment provided in part that, "[s]uch maximum weekly benefit shall apply to all provisions of this Chapter effective August 1, 1975." To hold that the amended maximum weekly benefit applies only to section 97-29 and not to section 97-38 when both sections are within the same chapter of the Workmen's Compensation Act, and the amendment specifically provides that the new maximum applies to all provisions of the chapter, would be in direct contravention to the plain language of the amendment. This we cannot and will not do. In Montague Brothers v. Shepherd Co., 231 N.C. 551, 556, 58 S.E.2d 118, 122 (1950), Justice Ervin speaking for the court noted, "[j]udges must interpret and apply statutes as they are written." As written, the 1973 amendment to G.S. 97-29 clearly establishes maximum weekly benefits for all sections of the Workmen's Compensation Act including benefits for total incapacity and death. In this case that maximum was determined to be $158.00 per week. It is this amount to which plaintiffs are entitled. The Court of Appeals' decision affirming the order of the full Commission is therefore affirmed. Affirmed.