Court Opinion

ID: 9570885
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 20:27:17.347119+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:20:41.690914
License: Public Domain

ON REHEARING
On November 22, 1974, the following opinion was filed:
Reheard before Sheran, C. J., and Rogosheske, Peterson, MacLaughlin, and Scott, JJ., and considered and decided by the court en banc.
Per Curiam.
In the original opinion in this case we emphasized that Minn. St. 1969, § 176.131, subd. 1, contains “clear, unambiguous, and unequivocal” language negating an inference that statutory apportionment was intended. We said:
«* * * -\ye faü to see how the plain language of the statute is susceptible of any construction that would write into it the principle of equitable apportionment.”
*10Having heard reargument of the case, we remain of this view.
We recognize, however, that an additional reason given in support of our opinion, i.e., that apportionment would inhibit the employment or retention of handicapped persons, may not apply in all cases. Our attention has been directed, for example, to this possibility: If, in the event of a second injury, apportionment were to be enforced, the employer at the time of the first injury might be encouraged to retain the employee, giving him work with minimal injury exposure rather than expose the employee to the risk of a second injury from more hazardous employment elsewhere and the employer to liability for apportionment. To the extent that this is a likely situation, it dilutes the policy considerations mentioned as reinforcing considerations in support of our prior decision. To what extent instances of the problem of retention of first-injury handicapped by an employer occur, and the effect allowing apportionment would have on- encouraging the practice, is unknown. A study and evaluation of these considerations is properly a legislative function.
We are satisfied, however, that if the legislature intended statutory apportionment, it would have said so explicitly. If we misconstrue the legislative intent, it can make apportionment available readily at its forthcoming session. The fact that apportionment has not been claimed by the fund as against first-injury employers in situations such as this one until recently may not constitute an administrative interpretation of the meaning of the statute, but it does suggest that the fund’s inability to secure apportionment will cause no crisis in the interval between now and the time the legislature has opportunity to evaluate the policy considerations involved. In this connection, it is important to bear in mind that apportionment will have no effect on a second employer’s decision to hire an industrially disabled person. If apportionment is not allowed, the risk of greater disabling injuries is borne by the special fund. If there is apportionment, that risk is shared between the first employer and the fund. Further, the allowance or disallowance of apportionment in this case *11has no effect upon the benefits payable to the employee. He is compensated fully by the second employer. Also, to the extent that this employer secures reimbursement from the special fund, the ultimate burden of payment falls upon employers generally. Whether this allocation of the burden is to be preferred over apportionment in instances such as this also is a matter which can best be assessed by the legislature.
We conclude that the statute as now written does not authorize the special fund to seek apportionment from the first employer. Apart from the statute, apportionment might arguably be allowed on principles of equitable subrogation. The theory would be that the fund, having relieved the second employer from a part of an obligation which would otherwise be imposed upon him, should, in equity, be subrogated to the second employer’s right to seek apportionment from the first employer. Resort to this theory in support of apportionment is discouraged by the fact that it would have no application where the second injury was sustained by the employee as a result of an accident arising out of and during the course of the same employment which occasioned his first injury, and this for the reason that the employer in such a case could have no rights of apportionment as against himself. In that case, the employer having no right of apportionment, there would be nothing to which the fund could succeed. This kind of a result is avoided if the legislature deals with the problem directly and determines whether or not apportionment should be allowed.