Opinion ID: 1702294
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: is any penalty due?

Text: Borden, a self-insurer, also had in effect a long term disability benefit plan whereby Eskridge was paid $1,070.40 per month. Under the plan Eskridge was to receive sixty percent of his yearly salary payable twice each month, but in computing this sum, all sums paid him by workers' compensation benefits and social security income disability benefits were to be included. After adding these, the pension plan paid the remainder in order to reach a sum equal to sixty percent of his monthly salary. Borden began paying Eskridge benefits under the plan, and subsequently Eskridge began receiving social security income disability benefits. When Eskridge began receiving these benefits, the monthly payments under the plan were reduced accordingly. The plan in effect with Borden was analogous to the plans we addressed in Western Electric, Inc. v. Ferguson, 371 So.2d 864, 868 (Miss. 1979), and South Central Bell Telephone Company v. Aden, 474 So.2d 584, 596 (Miss. 1985). Paragraph 2 of the order of the administrative law judge concluded with the following sentence: Any benefits paid to claimant as a result of a long term disability benefits plan and for any salary paid to the claimant for periods of time since the 28th day of January, 1983, during which the claimant might have worked for the employer should also be credited against money owed the claimant in compensation benefits. Borden appealed to the Commission on the issue of whether or not there was a compensable injury and Eskridge cross-appealed only on the issue of credits for disability payments. The Commission's order concluded as follows: 1. Temporary total disability benefits at the rate of $112.00 per week beginning January 25, 1983, and continuing until such time as the date of maximum medical recovery is established by competent medical evidence; and 2. All medical services and supplies required by the nature of claimant's injury or the process of his recovery as provided in Miss. Code Ann., Section 71-3-15 (1972). IT IS ALSO ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that a ten percent (10%) penalty shall be assessed on untimely installments of compensation pursuant to Miss. Code Ann., Section 71-3-37(5) (1972). (Emphasis added) Rather than seek clarification from the Commission on its order, Borden upon appeal informs us that it is not sure what the Commission meant in its order, insofar as credits due for payments made in salary to Eskridge and the amounts paid him under the pension plan. If there is something about a Commission order which is unclear to the parties, that forum is the proper place to get the matter clarified. Moreover, the question as to how benefits are to be applied as between carrier and pension plans is for another forum. Accordingly, we do not address Borden's assignment of error as to credits for salary and pension plan payments. Borden also objects to the assessment of any statutory penalty. The Commission did not assess any penalty on disability payments due under the Act, but  untimely installments, i.e., installments due but not paid in some way, either compensation benefits, or by salary or under the pension plan. As provided in Miss. Code Ann. § 71-3-37(5), Borden is only liable for the ten percent statutory penalty on any installment not paid within fourteen (14) days after it becomes due. The Commission only assessed a penalty on delinquent installments. The circuit judge affirmed the order of the Commission. Finding the order of the Commission supported by substantial evidence and containing no reversible error, we affirm the judgment of the circuit court. AFFIRMED AND REMANDED TO THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION COMMISSION FOR FURTHER PROCEEDINGS CONSISTENT WITH THIS OPINION. ROY NOBLE LEE, C.J., and PRATHER, ROBERTSON, SULLIVAN and BANKS, JJ., concur. McRAE, J., specially concurs with written opinion to follow. DAN M. LEE, P.J., and PITTMAN, J., dissent with separate written opinion.