Court Opinion

ID: 9724322
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 10:52:52.702284+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:24:59.292830
License: Public Domain

EDWARD D. MULALLY, Judge,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent.
The trial court erred in its determination that the dispute between the parties relative to conditions respondent seeks to impose before submitting to an independent medical examination was a fact issue for consideration and resolution by the arbitrator.
While it is true that under arbitration law generally arbitrators are the final judges of both law and fact, in the area of automobile reparation arbitration it is clear that arbitrators are limited to deciding issues of fact, leaving interpretations of law to the courts. Johnson v. American Family Ins. Co., 426 N.W.2d 419 (Minn.1988). This policy seeks to assure a more consistent interpretation of the statutory provisions. Where arbitrators are called upon to construe Minn.Stat. § 65B.56, the number of differing interpretations relating to conditions that may be attached to the taking of an independent medical examination is limited only by the number of arbitrators concerned.
As argued by appellant, issues as to the requirement, scope and conditions of an independent medical examination permitted by the statute and the insurance contract, are not factual disputes; they are questions of law based on contract and statutory interpretation. To permit the arbitrator to construe the statute as it relates to the independent medical examination, or the effect of respondent’s failure to appear and submit to the examination, would be contrary to the clear intent enunciated in Johnson that consistency mandates that the courts interpret the no-fault statutes. The problem here cannot be resolved, as the majority attempts to do, by designating as “factual issues” those that are clearly “legal issues.”
*195The majority concludes that an independent medical examination’s reasonableness presents “unique factual issues.” The issues presented in this case are neither factual nor unique. They are legal issues that will arise in almost every personal injury action where an independent medical examination is sought by the party against whom a claim is made. From the standpoint of the claimants (and who can blame them), the right to have a third party present at every phase of every independent medical examination, tape recording the proceeding and looking over the doctor’s shoulder, is a circumstance much to be desired. However, if such is to be an acceptable practice, let the court say so in order that uniformity can be achieved.
I would reverse and remand for consideration by the trial court.