Opinion ID: 1125088
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: whether claimant should be excused for her failure to comply with the formalities of nrs 616.500

Text: Ms. Reeves' claim was denied by the administrator, by the hearing officer and, ultimately, by the appeals officer, on the ground that Ms. Reeves failed to file a timely written claim in the manner required by NRS 616.500. Ms. Reeves admits that she failed to conform to the formal requirements of the statute; and, consequently, the only issue that remains is whether there is sufficient reason to excuse this failure. Under NRS 616.500(6), [2] an industrial accident insurer may excuse a claimant's failure to comply with the formalities of NRS 616.500(1), the claims statute, where there is sufficient reason for doing so, principally in cases in which a claimant has an excuse based upon mistake or ignorance of fact or of law. We have held that an employer's knowledge of an industrial injury or an injured employee's giving actual notice of the injury to the employer may excuse a failure to abide by the formal written notice requirements of NRS 616.500. [3] Brocas v. Mirage Hotel & Casino, 109 Nev. 579, 854 P.2d 862 (1993); Industrial Commission v. Adair, 67 Nev. 259, 217 P.2d 348 (1950). This, of course, is a matter to be dealt with on remand. On May 25, 1989, the administrator denied, in writing, Ms. Reeves' late-filed claim based on NRS 616.500 paragraph 1. Notice of the injury for which compensation is payable under this chapter must be given to the insurer as soon as practicable, but within 30 days after the happening of the accident. When the insurer denied the claim, it arguably concluded at the same time that no sufficient reason existed under NRS 616.500(6) to excuse Ms. Reeves' failure to conform to formal filing requirements. It is not clear from this record, however, whether the insurer actually considered Ms. Reeves' excuse and rejected it for lack of sufficient cause. We see no reason to disturb the trial court's order remanding the matter to the administrator for reconsideration of all issues. On remand, the administrator will be required to consider the excuse presented by Ms. Reeves and to notify her as to whether her excuse will be allowed under NRS 616.500(6). [4]