Opinion ID: 2518300
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: the worker's compensation law abolishes all causes of action against an employer for physical injuries caused by an accident arising out of and in the course of employment.

Text: Appellants argue the district court erred in holding that the worker's compensation law barred the Appellants' complaint. Appellants contend this is in error because Doe's injuries were not compensable under worker's compensation and therefore the tort action may be maintained in district court against Albertson's. Albertson's disagrees and argues that the only remedy available to an employee is via the worker's compensation law. Albertson's asserts that the declaration of police power section and the exclusive remedy provision of the worker's compensation law specifically abolished all claims against the employer. In 1917, our legislature enacted the state's first worker's compensation laws. 1917 Idaho Sess. Laws ch. 81; Gifford v. Nottingham, 68 Idaho 330, 340, 193 P.2d 831, 837 (1948) (Holden, J., dissenting). Because the act was originally passed as an entire complete act it should be construed and considered as a whole. Arneson v. Robinson, 59 Idaho 223, 239, 82 P.2d 249, 255 (1938). Idaho recodified the worker's compensation law in 1971. 1971 Idaho Sess. Laws, ch. 122, p. 408; Horton v. Garrett Freightlines, Inc., 115 Idaho 912, 916, 772 P.2d 119, 123 (1989). The Declaration of Police Power section of the worker's compensation law was once known as the 1917 Idaho Sess. Laws ch. 81 § 1(b), later known as I.C. § 43-902, and today has been recodified as I.C. § 72-201. Today's version of the statute essentially reads as it did in 1917, except for the exclusion of three sentences [1] and the inclusion of occupational diseases. Idaho Code § 72-201 provides: The common law system governing the remedy of workmen against employers for injuries received and occupational diseases contracted in industrial and public work is inconsistent with modern industrial conditions. The welfare of the state depends upon its industries and even more upon the welfare of its wageworkers. The state of Idaho, therefore, exercising herein its police and sovereign power, declares that all phases of the premises are withdrawn from private controversy, and sure and certain relief for injured workmen and their families and dependents is hereby provided regardless of questions of fault and to the exclusion of every other remedy, proceeding or compensation, except as is otherwise provided in this act, and to that end all civil actions and civil causes of action for such personal injuries and all jurisdiction of the courts of the state over such causes are hereby abolished, except as is in this law provided. Since its original enactment the worker's compensation law included an exclusiveness provision for an employee's remedy. In 1917 the section was known as the Right to Compensation Exclusive. 1917 Idaho Sess. Laws ch. 81 § 6, p. 256. [2] This section was recodified in 1971 as I.C. § 72-211 and is now titled Exclusiveness of Employee's Remedy. The section provides: Subject to the provisions of section 72-223, the rights and remedies herein granted to an employee on account of an injury or occupational disease for which he is entitled to compensation under this law shall exclude all other rights and remedies of the employee, his personal representatives, dependents or next of kin, at common law or otherwise, on account of such injury or disease.