Opinion ID: 2518013
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Steven Bennett's Claim

Text: Steven Bennett was injured in a motorcycle accident on May 1, 1996, while working for the City of Colorado Springs (the City). The City admitted liability for TTD benefits at the maximum rate in effect at the time of his accident. Bennett was periodically disabled over the next few years and ultimately retired from the City on July 15, 2000. The City admitted liability for TTD benefits after July 16, 2000, at the maximum weekly rate in effect at the time of his accident. Bennett then began working as a construction supervisor for Hannon Homes, and the City terminated his TTD benefits. Bennett's condition worsened while he worked at this second employer, and the City again paid TTD benefits to Bennett. For the rest of his employment at Hannon Homes, the City alternated between paying TTD benefits and PPD benefits to Bennett. On March 19, 2007, the City admitted liability for PTD benefits, still capped at the maximum rate in effect at the time of Bennett's accident. Bennett petitioned the ALJ to increase both his TTD benefits and his PTD benefits from the limit in place at the time of his accident to the limit in place at the time he became disabled. [4] The ALJ denied Bennett's requests to increase his TTD and PTD benefits. Bennett appealed this decision to the ICAO, and the ICAO affirmed the ALJ's decision. Bennett then appealed to the court of appeals. Relying on Avalanche Industries and Simpson, the court of appeals reversed the ALJ and ICAO panel because [t]he ALJ's conclusion contains no acknowledgement that the date of injury can include a subsequent disablement. Bennett, slip op. at 7-8. The court remanded the case to the ALJ to determine whether the claimant's injury includes disablement, when such disablement occurred, and which maximum rate was in effect at that time. Id. at 9.