Opinion ID: 164774
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Laubach's employment status

Text: 24 SBTC argues it is not liable for the garnishment proceeds because Mr. Laubach was no longer employed by SBTC at the time it paid him workers' compensation benefits. The continuing earnings garnishment statute defines earnings subject to garnishment broadly, to include any form of payment to an individual. Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 1173.4(A). 25 SBTC points out that a continuing earnings garnishment terminates with the employment relationship. Id. § 1173.4(G)(2). That is true a fortiori where wages are garnished, and the termination of the employment relationship ends the employer's responsibility for compensating the employee with wages that may be garnished. Where earnings other than wages are paid, however, the termination of the employment relationship may not end the garnishment. See id. § 1173.4(F)(1) (requiring garnishee to answer whether it was employer of defendant, was indebted to defendant, or was under liability to defendant in any manner or upon any account for earnings.).