Opinion ID: 1198874
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: phinney's average weekly wage

Text: Phinney contends that the Industrial Commission did not determine her average weekly wage in its order dated May 10, 1996, emphasizing that her average weekly wage was not listed as an issue to be resolved during the hearing. The ISIF argues that the Commission's specific factual findings as to Phinney's hourly rate of pay and the number of hours she worked per week constituted a determination of her average weekly wage even though the Commission did not specifically list Phinney's average weekly wage as an issue for resolution. Furthermore, the ISIF claims that because Phinney did not timely object below to the Commission's factual findings, she is bound by them and cannot now challenge them on appeal. Phinney filed a workers' compensation complaint for the purpose of obtaining disability benefits. In the box on the complaint form entitled when injured claimant was earning an average weekly wage of, Phinney responded $5.17 an hour. While the employer admitted that statement, the surety denied it in its answer to the complaint. At the start of the hearing on Phinney's complaint, the referee stated that the issues to be decided were: (1) whether the claimant has any disability in excess of her impairment, to include whether or not the claimant is totally and permanently disabled; (2) apportionment of disability; and (3) whether the claimant refused to accept suitable work. The record does not reflect any objection by Phinney to the referee's statement of the issues to be determined. During the course of the hearing, testimony was presented that Phinney was working 20 hours per week and earning $5.17 per hour at the time of her injury. The referee made factual findings and conclusions of law, which were adopted by the Commission and incorporated into an order on May 10, 1996. The following factual findings were included in the Commission's order: Claimant was unemployed from the time Henry L. Day Hospital closed until September 3, 1991 when she obtained work at Shoshone Medical Center, hereinafter referred to as Employer, as a cook/kitchen aide. Her rate of pay was $5.17 per hour. She understood when she took the position that it was going to be a full-time job, however, it was not full-time. Claimant was working 20 hours per week. On September 22, 1991, her pay was decreased to $4.50 per hour due to financial constraints of the hospital. Pursuant to I.C. §§ 72-408 and 72-409, the Industrial Commission's determination of Phinney's disability benefits requires knowledge of her average weekly wage. See generally I.C. §§ 72-408 and 72-409. Because the calculation of Phinney's average weekly wage is clearly part of the determination of her benefits, any findings by the Commission that relate to Phinney's average weekly wage are binding on the parties. Here, the Commission's order contained specific factual findings as to Phinney's hourly wage, $5.17 per hour, and the number of hours she worked per week, 20 hours per week. Phinney had an obligation to state in her complaint the amount she contended was her average weekly wage, and she had an obligation to indicate to the referee that the benefits calculation was an issue to be resolved at the hearing based upon the surety's denial in its answer. At a minimum, Phinney had an obligation to object to the referee's findings as to her hourly wage and the number of hours she worked per week if she disagreed with them. Because Phinney did not indicate to the referee prior to the hearing that her benefits calculation was a disputed issue, or move for reconsideration or rehearing under I.C. § 72-718, she is bound by the Commission's findings and cannot now challenge them on appeal. Based on the above, we find that the Industrial Commission did determine Phinney's average weekly wage in its order dated May 10, 1996. We will not consider Phinney's present challenge to the Commission's findings as to her hourly wage and the number of hours she worked per week because she did not timely object below to these findings.