Court Opinion

ID: 9567472
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 19:54:16.052026+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:00:37.840495
License: Public Domain

*366HOLOHAN, Chief Justice
(Dissenting):
The ambiguity found by the majority in A.R.S. § 23-1041 eludes me. The statute uses plain ordinary language which, in my judgment, needs no special construction.
A.R.S. § 23-1041(D) defines the term “monthly wage” as the average wage paid. The term “tip or tips” is not mentioned. In ordinary English usage “wages” are not the same as “tips,” and there is no suggestion that “tips” are synonymous with “wages.”
The members of the public including employees and employers understand that wages are paid by the employer and tips are gratuities from customers.
The majority brushes aside the problem that insurance carriers have in attempting to determine the risk involved. It is a poor answer to tell them not to write the insurance if they are having problems determining the average wage. Their problem is with inconsistent judicial decisions.
I dissent.