Opinion ID: 2539004
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Shehata's Waiver Argument

Text: Shehata asserts here that the commission erred in concluding that the Salvation Army could seek reimbursement of the controverted TTD benefits using subsection.250(b) [44] in the absence of fraud. He further asserts that the Salvation Army waived its right to seek reimbursement under AS 23.30.155(j), which permits recoupment of overpaid benefits through withholding, by failing to adjust his TTD payments after he told it that he would not contest the controversion. Shehata misunderstands the commission's resolution of this issue. Because it affirmed the board's order under subsection .250(b), the commission declined to address the waiver issue Shehata raised. Because of its affirmance of the board's order, it effectively found that Shehata had obtained benefits fraudulently, so his waiver argument was moot. From the record, it does not appear that Shehata is currently receiving workers' compensation benefits, so the issue of waiver is not ripe. If, at a later time, Shehata is awarded other benefits and the Salvation Army attempts to take an offset for the benefits at issue in this appeal, Shehata can raise the argument again.