Opinion ID: 2207755
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Temporary, partial disability benefits.

Text: Cozine was awarded temporary, partial disability benefits from February 5, 1982, through July 28, 1983. By notice of review, Midwest claims Cozine is not entitled thereto because they claim Cozine abandoned the labor market to return to college in January 1982. SDCL 62-4-5 provides compensation for temporary, partial disability based in part upon the average amount which [employee] is earning or is able to earn in some suitable employment or business after the accident. Since the statute refers to the amount the employee is able to earn, Cozine satisfied her burden under the statute by introducing evidence of what she was able to earn as a part-time summer worker and a dormitory resident assistant during the period of temporary, partial disability. Midwest failed to present any evidence to establish that Cozine could have earned more. Instead, Midwest simply argues that the testimony of Cozine's vocational expert indicated that Cozine was physically capable of performing 200 jobs. However, physical capability does not equal earning capability. To counter Cozine's evidence, Midwest must demonstrate that higher earnings would be regularly and continuously available to Cozine. This they failed to do. Therefore, we cannot say that the hearing examiner was clearly erroneous in awarding temporary, partial disability benefits.