Opinion ID: 1378778
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Modification of Benefits

Text: The employer and the division contend that the hearing examiner should not have addressed the modification of benefits issue at the permanent partial impairment benefits hearing because the division was not present and had not been given notice that this issue would be considered at that hearing. The division may appear before a hearing examiner and defend against any claim and shall in all respects have the same rights of defense as the employer. WYO. STAT. § 27-14-607 (1997). The Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act provides in pertinent part: (a) In any contested case, all parties shall be afforded an opportunity for hearing after reasonable notice served personally or by mail.... (b) The notice shall include a statement of: ... (iv) A short and plain statement of the matters asserted. If the agency or other party is unable to state the matters in detail at the time the notice is served, the initial notice may be limited to a statement of the issues involved, and thereafter upon application a more definite and detailed statement shall be furnished. WYO. STAT. § 16-3-107 (1997). The hearing examiner scheduled two hearings to consider the claimant's benefits. She scheduled the first hearing to consider whether or not the claimant was entitled to receive permanent partial impairment benefits. She scheduled the second hearing to consider the employer's request to have the final determination modified on the grounds of mistake or fraud and the claimant reimburse the division for the benefits which had been disbursed to her. The division elected not to participate in the first hearing but planned to participate in the second hearing. The hearing examiner failed to notify the division that she was going to address the modification of benefits issue during the permanent partial impairment benefits hearing. During the first hearing, she agreed to hear both issues and to enter an order on them despite the fact that she had scheduled a separate hearing to consider the modification issue. Without giving the division an opportunity to be heard, the hearing examiner decided that the division did not make a mistake and that fraud was not involved in this case. She concluded that a basis did not exist for modifying the awards already paid to the claimant. At the permanent partial impairment benefits hearing, the claimant had the burden of proof. Cabral, 920 P.2d at 269. The division would have had the burden at the second hearing of proving that a mistake or fraud existed because it sought to modify a worker's compensation claim. Martinez, 917 P.2d at 621. Since the burden of proof was on the division with regard to the modification issue, the hearing examiner should not have considered that issue during the first hearing without affording the division the opportunity to be present to meet its burden. Because the division's absence from the hearing foreclosed any opportunity to meet its burden of proof and to support its position, the portion of the hearing examiner's decision which addressed the modification issue was not in accordance with the law. Section 16-3-114(c)(ii)(A). We remand the case for a hearing to give the division an opportunity to be heard.