Opinion ID: 2634596
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Whether the final order entered was based upon alienage and therefore unconstitutional.

Text: The district court ruled that Butanda's contention that the final order was unconstitutionally based on alienage was meritless. It reasoned that no indication was given in the final order or the amended order that the Secretary Designee or the hearing officer ever gave any consideration to Butanda's alienage when considering whether to assess fines for her fraudulent or abusive acts. Butanda argues that by adopting the Board's orders dated November 9, 1999, and November 28, 2000, the hearing officer did consider alienage as a basis for his finding and by affirming the totality of the amended order, the Secretary Designee also considered alienage in reaching the final order. Butanda argues the amended order specifically adopted these orders in findings of fact No. 21 and No. 22: On November 9, 1999, the Appeals Board for the Kansas Division of Workers Compensation concluded in the underlying workers compensation proceedings that `individuals who misrepresent their true identity, depending on the circumstances, may have committed fraud or serious misconduct that may be grounds to void the initial award ab initio. It cannot be genuinely argued that such misrepresentation is harmless.' (Appeals Board Order dated November 19, 1999, p. 3-4). In that same Order, the Appeals Board concluded that there had been a `preliminary showing of fraud or serious misconduct.' (Appeals Board Order dated November 19, 1999, p. 5). On November 28, 2000, the Appeals Board for the Kansas Division of Workers Compensation found that the Administrative Law Judge `properly set aside the February 2, 1999, Order awarding claimant benefits. Claimant concealed and misrepresented her identity. Therefore, respondent and its insurance carrier could not investigate or verify employment or medical history.' (Appeals Board Order dated November 28, 2000, p. 7). The Appeals Board also concluded: ` appellant has intentionally misrepresented her true name and identity. Because of the manner in which permanent partial general disability benefits are computed, a worker's true name and identity are relevant and material. It is not only the misrepresentation that claimant made in her employment application with Respondent that is egregious. But it is also the misrepresentation and concealment that was practiced upon the respondent and insurance carrier in this claim.' (Appeals Board Order, November 28, 2000, p. 6, paragraph 3) (Emphasis added.) Regarding alienage, the November 9, 1999, order found in relevant part: National Beef and its insurance carrier are correct that an individual's status as a citizen or an alien may affect the computation of the permanent partial general disability rating. Likewise, the November 28, 2000, order discussed the appellant's immigration status: [T]he Board has not found that claimant is an illegal alien or that claimant cannot legally work in the United States. Second, if claimant could not legally work in the United States, that factor alone would not prevent her from recovering workers compensation benefits. On the other hand, it cannot be ruled out that there may be some situations where a worker's legal status may be relevant in determining whether there has been a good faith effort to find appropriate employment or in determining whether the difference in a worker's pre-and post-injury wages has been caused by a work-related injury or some other reason. Butanda's argument is without merit. Although portions of the November 9, 1999, and November 28, 2000, orders discuss Butanda's alienage in determining whether her benefits could be calculated, the portions of these orders which were cited in the amended order did not refer to alienage. Further, Acosta reversed these orders in concluding that the Board did not have jurisdiction in a review and modification proceeding to vacate ab initio Butanda's previous award of $57,936.72. See Acosta, 273 Kan. at 398. Butanda contends that the trial court's use of the computation of permanent partial general disability benefits as one of the bases for affirming the final order was unconstitutional because her alienage was an integral part of that basis. She cites Jurado v. Popejoy Const. Co., 253 Kan. 116, 126, 853 P.2d 669 (1993), in which this court held that statutory classification based on alienage was subject to strict scrutiny, and disparate treatment between employees with nonresident alien dependents and other employees is unconstitutional and violative of the Equal Protection Clauses of the Kansas and the United States Constitutions. However, Butanda fails to recognize that Acosta affirmed summary judgment in her favor for $57,936.72 in temporary total and permanent partial general disability compensation. See 273 Kan. at 400-01. Butanda does not argue that her alien status altered the calculation of the benefits that she actually received. Butanda is not being penalized based on her alien status, but for her actions in intentionally and willfully using a false identity throughout the workers compensation proceedings. Butanda also cites Reinforced Earth Co. v. W.C.A.B., 749 A.2d 1036 (Pa. Commw. 2000), in which the Pennsylvania appellate court concluded that denial of benefits to an illegal alien due to his immigration status would reward an employer who failed to properly ascertain an employee's immigration status. Butanda fails to recognize that this case was affirmed and remanded in Reinforced Earth Co. v. W.C.A.B., 570 Pa. 464, 810 A.2d 99 (2002). This case does not support Butanda's position. The trial court properly concluded that the amended order and the final order were not unconstitutionally based on alienage.