Opinion ID: 1454476
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: was the statute of limitations tolled?

Text: NMSA 1978, Section 52-1-58 requires an employer to file a written report of a compensable accidental injury suffered by an employee with the labor commissioner within ten days of the injury. Section 52-1-59 provides that the effect of a failure to file is that no claim for compensation is barred prior to the filing of the appropriate report. Section 52-1-31(B) contains the otherwise applicable statute of limitations and the procedure for filing a claim upon the death of a worker for which compensation may be received. Eligible dependents are entitled to recover benefits, although no claim can be filed unless notice has been given as required by Section 52-1-29 and a claim is filed within a year of the worker's death. In the present case, the claim was filed almost two years after decedent's demise. The hearing examiner, however, found the statute of limitations was tolled and the claim was not barred because of the Hospital's failure to file a first report of accident as required by Section 52-1-58. The court of appeals held otherwise, determining that, because it reversed the examiner's finding of actual notice, Wilson required the conclusion that the statute of limitations was not tolled. See 73 N.M. at 474, 389 P.2d at 596. Although the court of appeals properly construed Wilson, it applied an erroneous factual predicate. Our conclusion that the Hospital did have notice mandates the application of Section 52-1-59 to toll the time limitation. The Hospital had actual notice of the compensable injury, yet failed to file a written report as required. Thus, we hold that the claim is not time barred. See Wilson, 73 N.M. at 474, 389 P.2d at 596; Sanchez v. Bernalillo County, 57 N.M. 217, 257 P.2d 909 (1953); Cisneros v. Molycorp, Inc., 107 N.M. 788, 765 P.2d 761 (Ct.App.), cert. denied, 107 N.M. 785, 765 P.2d 758 (1988). Accordingly, we reverse the decision of the court of appeals and reinstate the judgment of the workers' compensation hearing officer. IT IS SO ORDERED. SOSA, CI, and FRANCHINI, J., concur.