Opinion ID: 886713
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Does filing a petition for mediation with the Department of Labor and Industry commence an action?

Text: ¶ 21 Preston argues that by petitioning the Department of Labor for mediation, she commenced an action as that term is used in §§ 27-2-101, 27-2-102, and 27-2-203, MCA. Specifically, Preston argues that a petition for mediation is an action, as that term is used in § 27-2-101, MCA, because the petition is a special proceeding of a civil nature. Hence, her petition, which was based on Preston and Transportation's mutual mistake regarding her mental illness, was timely because she petitioned the Department of Labor for mediation on November 29, 2000. Consequently, her petition was filed within two years from the discovery of the mutual mistake, which was August 9, 1999 (the day the statute of limitations began to run). ¶ 22 Transportation argues that a petition for workers' compensation mediation is not a special proceeding of civil nature, because special proceedings, as those terms are used in §§ 27-2-101 and 27-2-102, MCA, mean court proceedings, not administrative proceedings. Hence, Preston's petition to reopen her formerly-settled claim on September 19, 2001, was untimely, as it was not filed within two years from the discovery of the mutual mistake on August 9, 1999. ¶ 23 Under § 27-2-101, MCA, the term action is to be construed, whenever it is necessary to do so, as including a special proceeding of a civil nature. Some examples of special proceedings include writs of certiorari, writs of mandamus, and writs of prohibition. See §§ 27-25-101 et seq., 27-26-101 et seq., and 27-27-101 et seq., MCA. We have held that petitions for these writs are special proceedings of a civil nature, in part because they are based upon a judgment from which an appeal lies. See Application of Bertelson (1980), 189 Mont. 524, 617 P.2d 121. ¶ 24 In Patterson v. State, Dept. of Justice, 2002 MT 97, 309 Mont. 381, 46 P.3d 642, we held that civil proceedings must be conducted in accordance with the Montana Rules of Civil Procedure. Patterson, ¶ 12. Under Montana's Workers' Compensation Act, mediation is a non-binding and informal meeting, wherein the claimant and the insurer attempt to settle their dispute with a neutral mediator's assistance. Specifically, § 39-71-2408(2), MCA, states the a resolution recommended by a mediator is without administrative or judicial authority, and, hence, is not binding on the parties. Indeed, § 39-71-2411(4), MCA, states that during mediation, a party is not limited by the rules of evidence, nor is a verbatim record made of the mediation proceedings, § 39-71-2410(1)(b), MCA. ¶ 25 Here, Preston's petition for mediation is a petition for a non-binding and informal meeting with Transportation, the mediator, and herself. This meeting, as the statute states, is without administrative or judicial authority. Hence, Preston's petition for mediation is unlike other special proceedings  i.e., writs of certiorari, writs of mandamus, and writs of prohibition, to name a few  wherein the petition inheres from an appealable judgment. ¶ 26 Therefore, we hold that a petition for mediation does not commence an action, as that term is used in § 27-2-101, MCA.