Opinion ID: 2365114
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Employer's Appeal.

Text: [¶ 14] Spinnaker challenges the hearing officer's decision to award varying rates partial benefits. Section 213 of the Workers' Compensation Act provides, in pertinent part, that partially incapacitated employees are entitled to compensation equal to 80% of the difference between the injured employee's after-tax average weekly wage before the personal injury and the after-tax average weekly wage that the injured employee is able to earn after the injury.... 39-A M.R.S.A. § 213(1) (2001). Unlike fixed rate partial benefits, which are calculated as a fixed percentage based on the difference between the employee's pre-injury wage and what the employee is able to earn following an injury, varying rates partial benefits are calculated on a week-by-week basis, according to the actual difference between an employee's pre-injury and post-injury wages. See Lagasse v. Hannaford Bros. Co., 497 A.2d 1112, 1115 (Me.1985). [¶ 15] We have previously recognized varying rates awards as an acceptable method for structuring an employer's payment obligation in appropriate cases. See, e.g., Bernard v. Mead Publ. Paper Div., 2001 ME 15, ¶ 14, 765 A.2d 576, 580; Lagasse, 497 A.2d at 1119. We have also made clear, however, that varying rates awards should be the exception, not the rule, and that fixed rate benefits should be the standard practice in workers' compensation cases. See Lagasse, 497 A.2d at 1119. As we have stated, hearing officers will do well to resort to ordering partial compensation at varying rates only with the agreement of the parties or in the situation where a fixed percentage of incapacity is shown on the record to be particularly inappropriate or particularly difficult to set. Id. [¶ 16] Spinnaker filed a timely motion requesting further findings of fact and conclusions of law with respect to the hearing officer's decision to award varying rates partial incapacity benefits. Our decisions make clear that there are different standards of review applicable when the parties fail to move for further findings, as opposed to when a party files a motion for further findings, together with proposed findings. [4] [¶ 17] When the parties fail to file a motion for findings of fact, we treat the Board `as having made whatever factual determination could, in accordance with correct legal concepts, support [its] ultimate decision, and we inquire whether on the evidence such factual determinations must be held clearly erroneous.' Gallant v. Boise Cascade Paper Gr., 427 A.2d 976, 977 (Me.1981) (quoting Gorrie v. Elliott Jordan & Son, 408 A.2d 1008, 1011 (Me.1979)). When a party requests and proposes findings of fact, however, we review only `the factual findings actually made and the legal standards actually applied' by the hearing officer. Ladner v. Mason Mitchell Trucking Co., 434 A.2d 37, 40 (Me.1981) (quoting Gallant, 427 A.2d at 977; see also Carroll v. Celsius Contractors, 637 A.2d 111, 112 (Me.1994)). When the underlying opinion does not adequately set forth the factual findings and legal conclusions, the hearing officer should grant the motion and make findings which clarify the relevant disputed facts and the legal conclusions based on those facts. [¶ 18] In the present case, the hearing officer denied the employer's motion for further findings of fact, stating that the original opinion contained sufficient findings to provide a basis for appellate review. We disagree. In the absence of an agreement authorizing an award of varying rates partial incapacity benefits, varying rates benefits should only be awarded when fixed rate benefits are particularly inappropriate or particularly difficult to set. Lagasse, 497 A.2d at 1119. The hearing officer's decision is devoid of any findings or discussion concerning the propriety of a varying rates award. Based upon the factual findings made and the legal standards applied by the hearing officer, there is no foundation for a varying rates award and we must, therefore, vacate the same and remand for the entry of a fixed rate partial benefit award. The entry is: The decision of the Workers' Compensation Board is vacated. Remanded to the Workers' Compensation Board for further proceedings consistent with the opinion herein.