Opinion ID: 2638912
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Disparate Treatment of Similarly Situated Individuals

Text: {10} The threshold question in analyzing all equal protection challenges is whether the legislation creates a class of similarly situated individuals who are treated dissimilarly. See Madrid, 1996-NMSC-064, ¶ 35. Under the Act, a worker is eligible for compensation if he or she is unable to perform work duties because of an accident arising out of and in the course of his or her employment. NMSA 1978, § 52-1-25(A) (2003); NMSA 1978, § 52-1-25.1(A) (1990). Sections 52-1-41 and -42 create categories of similarly situated individuals, either totally impaired or partially impaired. [2] Within those similarly situated groups, persons with mental disabilities are treated differently than those with physical disabilities. Workers who suffer total disability because of a physical injury can receive compensation for the rest of their lives, § 52-1-41(A), while workers who suffer total disability because of a primary mental impairment can only receive up to 100 weeks of compensation, § 52-1-41(B). Workers who suffer a permanent partial disability because of a physical injury can receive compensation up to 700 weeks, § 52-1-42(A)(1) and (2), while workers who suffer permanent partial disability because of a primary mental impairment can receive only 100 weeks of compensation, § 52-1-42(A)(3). Therefore, the Act results in dissimilar treatment of similarly situated workers.