Court Opinion

ID: 9793986
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 02:56:21.175959+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:09:35.252157
License: Public Domain

COWAN, Juge (dissenting). The New Mexico Workmen’s Compensation Act contains provisions setting out circumstances under which compensation will or will not be paid. It also contains provisions placing limitations on compensation benefits as to time, amount and previous payments. These various provisions of the Act should be afforded equal weight. The majority, however, fails to weigh Section 59-10-18.8, N.M.S.A.1953 (Repl.Vol. 9, pt. 1, 1971 Supp.) accurately and, as a result, misapplies this provision to the facts of the case. In addition to limiting compensation benefits to 500 weeks and to $28,500.00, the weekly benefits are further limited by sub-paragraph “D” of Section 59-10-18.8, supra. This subparagraph states: “D. the compensation benefits payable by reason of disability caused by accidental injury shall be reduced by the compensation benefits paid or payable on account of any prior injury suffered by the workman if compensation benefits in both instances are for injury to the same member or function, or different parts of the same member or function, or for disfigurement, and if the compensation benefits payable on account of the subsequent injury would, in whole or in part, duplicate the benefits paid or payable on account of such prior injury.” The question presented here has not been answered in New Mexico and the cases cited in the majority opinion are not persuasive. The question is not whether the plaintiff was able to work prior to the second accident. The question is whether he is entitled to receive compensation for a disability for which he has already been compensated, in the face of the prohibitory statute. The majority quotes from Larson as authority for its position but I do not deem the quote applicable nor persuasive. It is a generality only, and no consideration is given or reference made to a statutory provision similar to subparagraph “D” supra. Plaintiff injured his low back in 1961 and was judicially determined to be totally disabled because of that injury. That determination was never set aside or amended and he was paid in full for the disability. Plaintiff then returned to work and received a second injury to his low back. The trial court found that both injuries were to the same function and that the plaintiff was totally disabled. Benefits are not determined by the occurrence of an injury but by the disability produced thereby. Lozano v. Archer, 71 N.M. 175, 376 P.2d 963 (1962). The plaintiff has already been compensated for his disability to the extent of the money paid him because of the 1961 injury. To pay him again for the same disability would certainly duplicate, in whole or in part, the benefits paid him because of the 1961 injury. Any other interpretation of the ordinary language of subparagraph “D” represents a legal distortion of legislative intent. It is not within the province of this court to legislate socio-economic reforms. That is a matter for the lawmakers. Here, the legislature has spoken clearly and unambiguously and it is the duty of this court to give that clear and unambiguous language full weight and deliberate consideration. If the statute may cause harsh results in some cases, the situation should have the attention of the legislature. We have no right by construction to strip the statute of its clear legislative purpose. Our Supreme Court, in Montoya v. Sanchez, 79 N.M. 564, 446 P.2d 212 (1968), has stated the position unequivocally: “ . . . Admittedly, the economic impact on the plaintiff is to be regretted; but we cannot, even under our longstanding liberal construction of the Workmen’s Compensation Act, judicially amend ...” Compensation benefits payable to the plaintiff as a result of the second injury should be reduced by the compensation benefits paid him on account of the 1961 injury. The majority holding to the contrary, I dissent.