Opinion ID: 1696996
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Abrogation of Common Law Rights

Text: The majority's conclusion that Alcozer is not an employee under the Act creates constitutional issuesnamely, the abrogation of common law rights and equal protection problems. Given that we ought to favor an interpretation of a statute that does not conflict with constitutional mandates over one that does, the majority's interpretation of the statute is disfavored. State ex rel. Forslund v. Bronson, 305 N.W.2d 748, 751 (Minn.1981) (stating that construction that avoids constitutional conflict is preferred). Having concluded that Alcozer is an employee under the Act, it would not be necessary to reach the constitutional issues relating to the IPP. However, in view of the majority's disposition, these issues cannot be avoided. Traditionally we have approached with caution legislation abrogating a cause of action for which there was at common law a remedy involving the right to a trial by jury. [12] When we have addressed such legislation, we have focused on the adequacy of the substituted remedy. In Breimhorst v. Beckman, 227 Minn. 409, 35 N.W.2d 719 (1949), an employee sought common law damages for serious disfigurement, a disability not covered by the Workers' Compensation Act, that did not affect her employability. The employee in Breimhorst challenged the constitutionality of the Act on the grounds that its exclusiveness of remedy deprived her of both the right to a trial by jury and an adequate remedy for her injuries. Id. at 429-30, 35 N.W.2d at 732. In Breimhorst, we said that so long as the substituted remedy is adequate, the legislature may withhold the right of a jury when substituting a new and fundamentally different remedy upon a cause of action for which there was a right of trial by jury at common law. Id. at 434, 35 N.W.2d at 734. In finding the remedy adequate in Breimhorst, we said: In return for the fixed liability of her employer, whether he has been negligent or not, it naturally follows that the employe [sic] here has been required to surrender something in return, such as the right to damages for certain disabilities which do not affect her employability where she has otherwise become entitled to compensation for associated injuries. Id. at 436, 35 N.W.2d at 735. [13] As previously noted, the IPP abrogates Alcozer's common law rights; however, unlike the Workers' Compensation Act, it also excludes compensation for disability that does affect employability.