Opinion ID: 564886
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: LHWCA Death Benefits

Text: 17 We reject Mrs. Force's argument that section 933(f) does not provide for any offset against her death benefits. She contends that section 933(f) does not apply to her because she was not a person entitled to compensation at the time she entered into the settlement, which was prior to her husband's death. Again, we defer to the Director's view that section 933(f) does not require the claimant's status as a person entitled to compensation to be determined at any particular time; [t]he only relevant question is whether the claimant is impermissibly recovering twice for the same injury, regardless of when such payments occur. Director's Brief at 26. 2 If Mrs. Force had successfully sued for wrongful death after her husband's death, Kaiser clearly would be entitled to offset the damages recovered against its death benefits liability. Instead, she settled her potential wrongful death claims prior to Mr. Force's death. Section 933(f) is equally applicable and allows the employer to offset the third party recovery.