Opinion ID: 2422931
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Standard of Review and Authority of the Workers' Compensation Board

Text: [¶ 11] Our focus here is on Me. W.C.B. Rule, ch. 1, § 1. We have recognized a legislative intent to delegate broad authority to the Board to interpret the Act when the statutory language is ambiguous either by rule or through its decision-making authority. Baker v. S.D. Warren Co., 2010 ME 87, ¶ 10, 3 A.3d 380, 383; see also Bridgeman v. S.D. Warren Co., 2005 ME 38, ¶ 10, 872 A.2d 961, 964; Russell v. Russell's Appliance Serv., 2001 ME 32, ¶ 10 n. 3, 766 A.2d 67, 71. [W]e give deference to Board rules interpreting the Act and have encouraged the Board to enact rules to fill in the `gray areas' that were intentionally left in the Act. Baker, 2010 ME 87, ¶ 10, 3 A.3d at 383; see also Bridgeman, 2005 ME 38, ¶ 11, 872 A.2d at 964-65; Russell, 2001 ME 32, ¶ 10 n. 3, 766 A.2d at 71; Bureau v. Staffing Network, Inc., 678 A.2d 583, 588 (Me.1996). [¶ 12] The Board derives its rulemaking authority from 39-A M.R.S. § 152(2) (2010), which provides: 2. Rules. Subject to any applicable requirements of the Maine Administrative Procedure Act, the board shall adopt rules to accomplish the purposes of this Act. Those rules may define terms, prescribe forms and make suitable orders of procedure to ensure the speedy, efficient, just and inexpensive disposition of all proceedings under this Act. (Footnote omitted.) [¶ 13] Along with its duty to administer the Act, the Board is required to monitor cases to ensure that [p]ayments are initiated within the time limits established in section 205. 39-A M.R.S. §§ 152(1), 153(1)(A) (2010). Moreover, the mission of the Board is to serve the employees and employers of the State fairly and expeditiously by ensuring compliance with the workers' compensation laws, [and] ensuring the prompt delivery of benefits legally due.... 39-A M.R.S. § 151-A (2010).