Opinion ID: 1895115
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: Lien against Workers' Compensation Benefits

Text: The trial judge ordered the district attorney to make a claim in the amount of $16,859.54 against Green's pending workers' compensation action to secure payment of restitution and reimbursement; the district attorney has complied. First, Miss. Code Ann. § 71-3-43 (1972), provides that workers' compensation is exempt from all creditors' claims and from levy, execution, attachment or other remedy for recovery of a debt. If Green's indigent status was properly revoked and the amount of his attorney fees and expenses is a debt owed the county, his workers' compensation benefits would still be exempt from any claim for recovery of this debt. The trial judge erred on this point. It may well be that the legislature may wish to revisit this issue but as the law stands today, the trial judge cannot levy against workers' compensation benefits. Moreover, regarding the order of restitution, since Green was also sentenced to imprisonment and the trial judge did not expressly find he had assets to pay Camp's family, the order of restitution is not enforceable during the period of imprisonment. Miss. Code Ann. § 99-37-5(1) (Supp. 1992). Imposition of levy of execution for the collection of restitution is not authorized until the defendant is in default in his payment. Miss. Code Ann. § 99-37-13 (Supp. 1992). Green's order of restitution is not yet enforceable, therefore, he can not be in default. The trial judge erred by ordering a claim against Green's workers' compensation benefits to secure payment of restitution.