Case Name: PIERCE v. JOHNSON
Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1972-02-28
Citations: 39 Mich. App. 67
Docket Number: Docket No. 10984
Parties: PIERCE v JOHNSON
Judges: Before: Fitzgerald, P. J., and B. B. Burns and Holbrook, JJ.
Reporter: Michigan appeals reports; cases decided in the Michigan Court of Appeals.
Volume: 39
Pages: 67–68

Head Matter:
PIERCE v JOHNSON
Workmen’s Compensation — Reduced Weekly Payments — Statutes.
Workmen’s Compensation Act amendment of 1965, which reduces the weekly compensation payments of a claimant following his 65th birthday, does not apply to persons over 65 at the time the amendment was passed (MCLA 412.9 [g]).
Reference for Points in Headnote
58 Am Jur, Workmen’s Compensation § 33.
Appeal from Workmen’s Compensation Appeal Board.
Submitted Division 3 February 2, 1972 at Grand Rapids.
(Docket No. 10984.)
Decided February 28, 1972.
Leave to appeal denied, 387 Mich 787.
Elmer H. Pierce presented his claim for workmen’s compensation against Tyrus K. Johnson and Maryland Casualty Company. Workmen’s Compensation Appeal Board affirmed award. Defendants appeal.
Affirmed.
Williams, Coulter <& Forster, for plaintiff.
Cholette, Perkins S Buchancm, (Edward D. Wells, of counsel), for defendants.
Before: Fitzgerald, P. J., and B. B. Burns and Holbrook, JJ.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
Plaintiff lost an eye when a pine needle pierced it while he was bailing Christmas trees for defendant on November 24,1967. Plaintiff was 81 years old.
This appeal from the Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board involves the interpretation of the act, more specifically MCLA 412.9(g); MSA 17.159(g), as amended in 1965.
"When an employee who is receiving weekly payments or is entitled to weekly payments reaches the age of 65, the weekly payments for each year following his sixty-fifth birthday shall be reduced by 5% of the weekly payments paid or payable at age 65, but not to less than 50% of the weekly benefit paid or payable at age 65; so that on his seventy-fifth birthday the weekly payments shall have been reduced by 50% ; after which there shall be no further reduction for the duration of the employee's life. In no case shall weekly payments be reduced below the minimum weekly benefit as provided in this act."
The board held that this particular section of the act did not apply to persons over the age of 65 at the time of passage of the amendment.
We agree. Affirmed. Costs to plaintiff.