Opinion ID: 1945998
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Whether Interest on the Penalty Benefits Award Runs From the Date of the Deputy's Decision or From the Date of the Commissioner's Remand Decision.

Text: Schadendorf claims interest on her award of penalty benefits should have started to run from the May 15, 2001, decision by a deputy workers' compensation commissioner awarding her penalty benefits. We disagree. The decision of the commissioner is the final agency action. Iowa Code § 86.24(5). The commissioner overturned the May 15 decision of the deputy awarding penalty benefits. Thus, as of May 15, there was no final agency action awarding Schadendorf penalty benefits. Because nothing was due, we cannot assess interest from May 15. Final agency action awarding penalty benefits did not occur until the commissioner issued his remand decision on August 25, 2005. Therefore, the district court and the commissioner were correct in awarding interest on these penalty benefits from August 25.