Opinion ID: 1128230
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Hamlin's Wrongful-Death Claim Against The State of Wyoming Is Proscribed by the Exclusive-Remedy Provisions of the Worker's Compensation Law

Text: Insofar as the estate of Hamlin seeks to hold the State of Wyoming vicariously liable for the wrongful death of the estate's decedent, we agree with the trial court that the estate must fail by reason of the exclusive-remedy provisions of the Wyoming Constitution, Art. 10, § 4, and § 27-12-103(a) (see n. 7). [8] In Baker v. Wendy's of Montana, Inc., Wyo., 687 P.2d 885 (1984) (accord Parker v. Energy Development Co., Wyo., 691 P.2d 981 (1984)), we held that the contributing employer is absolutely immune from all tort claims arising out of any injury which is compensable under the Wyoming worker's compensation law. Hamlin's death resulted from a compensable injury, and therefore his employer, the State of Wyoming, is absolutely immune from Hamlin's wrongful-death action. However, Hamlin's estate does not confine its claim to a reliance upon a suit against the State for the wrongful death of Hamlin. The Hamlin estate also seeks relief from the State of Wyoming by urging that it is a third-party beneficiary to the statutory agreement contained in § 1-39-104(b) (see n. 3) between Befus and the State of Wyoming. [9]