Opinion ID: 2110037
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: decision of workers' compensation court

Text: The Workers' Compensation Court determined that Deyle did require inhome nursing care as a result of his August 1984 injury and that Bituminous must reimburse Deyle for such care. See Neb.Rev.Stat. § 48-120 (Reissue 1988) (employer's liability for employee's medical expenses). The court also found that the expenses for the inhome nursing care rendered to Deyle were fair and reasonable. Therefore, the court ordered Bituminous to pay $56,412.05 for the inhome nursing expenses which Deyle had incurred. Further, the Workers' Compensation Court concluded that Neb.Rev.Stat. § 48-125 (Reissue 1988) is limited to compensation payable under the provisions of the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Act and does not apply to delinquent payment of a medical or hospital expense. Section 48-125 addresses compensation as the amount payable periodically in accordance with the methods of payments of wages of the employee at the time of the injury (emphasis supplied). The Court does not feel that the word compensation includes medical expenses, but is limited to payment of compensation for disability. On that basis, the court refused to assess any sum for Bituminous' delay in satisfying the initial award, which had been affirmed as modified in Bituminous I, and refused to award an attorney fee or assess interest under § 48-125. Also, the court made no provision for postjudgment interest on the initial award ( Bituminous I ).