Opinion ID: 1804028
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Heritage Mutual Insurance Company/McGee

Text: [¶ 9.] Edward McGee suffered a back injury in 1983 while working for a construction company in Rapid City. By 1987 McGee was diagnosed as having a 5 percent permanent partial impairment. This injury resulted in surgery in 1993 and a 17 percent permanent partial impairment, as diagnosed in 1995. As a result of these back injuries, McGee claimed to be unable to work and offered support for his claim of permanent total disability. Heritage settled the case stemming from the 1993 injury and paid a total of $103,064.54 to McGee. [¶ 10.] In 1999 Heritage notified SIF of a claim based upon the 1993 back injury and surgery. Heritage made a claim for an amount based upon the 1984 version of SDCL 62-4-34. SIF issued findings of fact and conclusions of law awarding reimbursement using the two-thirds calculation available based upon the 1995 version of SDCL 62-4-34. Based upon its analysis using the two-thirds figure, SIF reimbursed Heritage in the amount of $68,709,70; this is $23,001.91 less than the amount requested by Heritage. [¶ 11.] Heritage filed a petition for hearing requesting payment of the shortfall plus prejudgment interest. Again, both parties filed motions for summary judgment. Department awarded full reimbursement as requested by Heritage. Department concluded in its decision that the law in effect when the injury occurred governed the rights of the parties. [¶ 12.] SIF appealed the Department's rulings in both cases to the circuit court. The court consolidated the cases and affirmed the actions of Department. SIF appeals the judgment of affirmance of the circuit court. SIF raises one issue on appeal: which version of SDCL 62-4-34 applies to the claims in question?