Opinion ID: 1855274
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Byron L. Des Jarlais

Text: ¶ 10. Byron L. Des Jarlais was employed as a deputy sheriff for Vilas County. In 1988, Des Jarlais suffered a work-related back injury for which he received both temporary total disability and permanent partial disability benefits under the Worker's Compensation Act. Des Jarlais received a total of $8,190 in permanent partial disability payments, with the final payment being made in December 1988. [7] ¶ 11. After aggravating his back injury while on the job, Des Jarlais applied for § 40.65 duty disability benefits in April 1991. The DETF approved his application, and duty disability payments commenced in August 1991. The DETF reduced Des Jarlais' monthly duty disability payment by $503.10 until the amount deducted equaled the $8,190 in permanent partial disability payments that Des Jarlais had received through December 1988. [8] ¶ 12. The Board rejected Des Jarlais' claim that his disability benefits should not be reduced by the worker's compensation paid nearly three years prior to the commencement of duty disability benefits. Des Jarlais appealed to the Circuit Court for Dane County, Michael Nowakowski, Judge, which ruled in his favor. The circuit court concluded that § 40.65 unambiguously precluded the DETF from reducing duty disability benefits with previously received worker's compensation benefits. The court of appeals affirmed the decision of the circuit court, and the Board petitioned this court for review.