Opinion ID: 2602113
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Claim on Behalf of Alfred G. Marchand

Text: {9} Rebecca filed a timely claim with the Fund as the Personal Representative of the Estate. Her efforts in pursuing the award included retaining a New York law firm, traveling to New York City for testimony, and preparing an economic loss analysis of Alfred's anticipated income. Joshua did not participate in filing the claim with the Fund, nor was he required to. Rebecca submitted a list of all individuals entitled to a Fund award and agreed to distribute any award according to New Mexico law. Though Rebecca submitted a proposed distribution plan for the award, there is no indication in the record that the Special Master ever approved that plan. {10} The Special Master detailed the final award determination in a letter to Rebecca dated June 24, 2004. The total award before collateral source offsets was $1,847,969.88, comprised of an economic loss component of $1,397,969.88, and non-economic loss awards of $100,000 each for Rebecca and Trae, as spouse and dependent child of the decedent, and $250,000 for the Estate. The letter specified the relevant state law that should govern distribution of each portion of the award. The economic loss portion of the award was to be distributed according to New Mexico wrongful death law; the non-economic loss award to the Estate was to be distributed according to New Mexico intestate law, there being no will of record. The non-economic loss awards to Rebecca and Trae were to go directly to them. {11} However, the Estate did not actually receive $1,847,969.88. Instead, the Estate received a final award of $769,971.88, reflecting a deduction of $1,077,998 in collateral offsets mandated by the Act, due primarily to pension benefits paid directly to Rebecca for her own use. The Special Master's letter broke down the amount of collateral offsets attributed to each individual: $1,012,321 was attributable to the benefits received by Rebecca, $25,000 to the Estate, $23,177 to Trae, and $17,500 to Joshua. The letter also instructed as follows: Generally, collateral offsets should first be applied to the share of the individual who received the benefit. Any excess benefit should be applied to the remaining shares of the award. The proper distribution of the $769,971.88 actually received by the Estate is the subject of this appeal.