Opinion ID: 1210296
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: the duty to disclose

Text: Appellant's first contention is that appellee was under a duty to appellant to disclose the existence and availability of workmen's compensation and that its failure to do so either excuses or tolls the running of the period of limitation. This duty is said to arise under the workmen's compensation law of the State of California which requires an employer to post and keep posted in a conspicuous location at his headquarters or at one of his places of employment ... a notice which shall state the name of the current compensation insurance carrier of such employer, or when such is the fact, that the employer is self-insured. Calif.Labor Code § 3713, as amended, Stats. 1945, c. 1352, p. 2529, § 1. It is urged that this duty applies to appellee by virtue of R.L.H. 1955, § 97-8, which, in pertinent part, provides: § 97-8. Injuries without the Territory. ...... If a workman who has been hired without the Territory is injured while engaged in his employer's business, and is entitled to compensation for the injury under the law of the state or territory where he was hired, he shall be entitled to enforce against his employer his rights in this Territory if his rights are such that they can reasonably be determined and dealt with by the director, the appellate board, and the court in this Territory. The short answer to this argument is that, even if it is assumed that Section 3713 of the California Labor Code and Section 97-8 of our laws are authority for all that appellant claims, the issue is not properly before us and need not be considered on this appeal. In the proceedings below appellant did not mention the possibility that California rather than Hawaii law applied. Nor did she indicate at any time a desire to take advantage of the procedure set forth in Section 97-8. We have held in numerous cases that this court on appeal will not consider issues beyond those that are properly raised in the trial court, e.g., Molina v. Largosa, 51 Haw. 507, 511, 465 P.2d 293, 296 (1970); State v. Robinson, 50 Haw. 501, 502, 443 P.2d 140, 141 (1968). Although we have never considered the application of this general rule to workmen's compensation proceedings, we are of the opinion that it should apply, particularly in cases where the unique procedure contemplated by Section 97-8 is involved. See 3 Larson, Law of Workmen's Compensation § 84.20 (1971). A majority of courts are in accord with this conclusion, e.g., Paveglio v. Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., 167 N.W.2d 636, 639 (Iowa 1969); Bryant v. Montgomery Ward & Co., 416 S.W.2d 195, 200-201 (Mo. App. 1967); Herrera v. C & R Paving Company, 73 N.M. 237, 240, 387 P.2d 339, 341-42 (1963); United Wire & Supply Corporation v. Frenier, 87 R.I. 31, 33, 137 A.2d 414, 416 (1958). [1] While this court recognizes its power to take judicial notice of applicable foreign law, or to remand for its application, HRS § 623-1, formerly R.L.H. 1955, § 226-1, nothing in the record suggests that it is appropriate to do so in this case. At all times prior to this appeal appellant not only failed to rely on California law but affirmatively argued that she was eligible for compensation under Hawaii law. In these circumstances, the orderly and efficient administration of our workmen's compensation system requires that appellant should not at this late stage be allowed to rely on the law of California to establish her claim to benefits in this state. See Marshall v. First American National Bank of Nashville, 91 Ill. App.2d 47, 49, 233 N.E.2d 430, 431 (1968); Stockton v. Rogers, 17 Misc. 138, 139, 39 N.Y.S. 400, 402 (1896).