Source: http://mn.gov/workcomp/2010/Kanieski-11-09-10.html
Timestamp: 2013-05-19 23:03:56
Document Index: 256351353

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 176', '§ 176', '§ 176', '§ 176', '§ 176', '§ 176']

Kanieski v. Ferche Millwork, Inc.
EDWARD J. KANIESKI, Employee, v. FERCHE MILLWORK, INC., and TRAVELERS PROPERTY CAS. CO. OF AM., Employer-Insurer/Petitioners.
No. WC10-5153
PERMANENT TOTAL DISABILITY - DISCONTINUANCE; PERMANENT TOTAL DISABILITY - RETIREMENT. Where the right to discontinue permanent total disability benefits pursuant to the presumptive retirement provision of Minn. Stat. § 176.101, subd. 4, was incorporated into the parties’ stipulation for settlement, the employer and insurer are entitled to discontinue payment of permanent total disability benefits to the employee when he reached the age of 67 years.
Attorneys: John R. Malone, Malone & Atchison, St. Cloud, MN, for the Respondent. Gary M. Swanson, John G. Ness & Assocs., St. Paul, MN, for the Petitioners.
Edward Kanieski, the employee, sustained a personal injury on January 30, 1996, arising out of his employment with Ferche Millwork, Inc., insured by Travelers Property Casualty Company of America.[1] The employer and insurer admitted liability for the employee’s personal injury. Thereafter, the parties entered into a settlement of the employee’s claims in which they stipulated the employee was permanently and totally disabled as of August 9, 1999. The employer and insurer agreed to pay certain workers’ compensation benefits to the employee, including a lump sum payment representing permanent total disability benefits from August 9, 1999, through August 9, 2001. In the stipulation for settlement, the employer and insurer further agreed to “continue to pay permanent total disability benefits subsequent to August 9, 2001, for as long as the Employee remains entitled to permanent total disability benefits under the Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Act.” (Stip. for Settlement ¶ X.3.) An award on stipulation was served and filed on October 18, 2001.
On August 9, 2010, the employer and insurer filed with this court a petition to discontinue permanent total disability benefits on the basis that the employee had reached age 67 in July 2010 and was presumed retired. The petitioners assert the employee was born on July 22, 1943, and reached the age of 67 years on July 22, 2010. The petitioners maintain they have no further liability for permanent total disability benefits from and after July 2010 pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 176.101, subd. 4.[2] The employee filed no responsive pleadings.
In this case, the parties stipulated the employee was entitled to permanent total disability benefits by reason of his personal injury and an award on stipulation was served and filed.[3] The settlement agreement provides the employer and insurer will pay permanent total disability benefits to the employee so long as he remains entitled to such benefits under the workers’ compensation act. By agreeing the employee would be paid benefits pursuant to the workers’ compensation act, the parties incorporated into their settlement agreement the presumptive retirement provision of Minn. Stat. § 176.101, subd. 4. See Ruby v. Mueller Pipelines, 69 W.C.D. 453 (W.C.C.A. 2009). The employee reached the age of 67 in July 2010 and is presumed retired from the labor market. The petitioners’ request to discontinue permanent total disability benefits, effective July 22, 2010, is granted.
[1] On January 30, 1996, the insurer was called Travelers Insurance Company.
[2] Minn. Stat. § 176.101, subd. 4, provides , in part:
Permanent total disability shall cease at age 67 because the employee is presumed retired from the labor market.
[3] An award on stipulation issued under Minn. Stat. § 176.521 constitutes an “adjudication” within the meaning of Minn. Stats. §§ 176.238, subd. 11, and 176.239, subd. 10. Cook v. J. Mark, Inc., 51 W.C.D. 432 (W.C.C.A. 1994). The latter two statutes are, therefore, inapplicable for the purpose of discontinuing permanent total disability to an employee who is receiving those benefits under an award on stipulation. See also Behrens v. City of Fairmont, 53 W.C.D. 20 (W.C.C.A. 1995), rev’d on other grounds, 553 N.W.2d 854, 53 W.C.D. 41 (Minn. 1995); Ruby v. Mueller Pipelines, 69 W.C.D. 453 (W.C.C.A. 2009); Haberle v. Erickson Mills, Inc., 58 W.C.D. 478 (W.C.C.A. 1998).