Opinion ID: 885506
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Representation or Concealment of Material Fact

Text: ¶ 15 The WCC held that Liberty's reimbursement of Dr. Nelson for a period of two years did not amount to a representation or concealment of material fact. Likewise, Liberty contends on appeal that its conduct in reimbursing Dr. Nelson neither concealed any material facts nor made any representation about the future. We disagree. ¶ 16 The record is clear that Liberty had knowledge that Selley had selected Dr. Nelson as her treating physician and that Dr. Nelson was acting in that capacity. After two years of steadily reimbursing Dr. Nelson without objection, it was entirely reasonable for Selley to assume that Liberty would continue to regard Dr. Nelson as her treating physician and, in accord with that status, would continue to reimburse him for his medical treatment of Selley. ¶ 17 The doctrine of equitable estoppel is frequently invoked where, as here, it would be unconscionable to permit a party to maintain a position inconsistent with one in which it, or those by whose acts it is bound, has acquiesced. See 28 Am.Jur.2d Estoppel and Waiver § 57, at 673-74 (1966). While Liberty's conduct may not amount to concealment of a material fact, we determine that Liberty's silence and acquiescence for two full years amounts to a representation by Liberty that Dr. Nelson was considered an appropriate treating physician for Selley's work-related injuries. Since, as discussed below, Liberty should have known that Dr. Nelson did not satisfy the provisions of § 39-71-116(30), MCA (1993), Liberty's conduct constituted a misrepresentation of material fact. Thus, the first element is satisfied.