Court Opinion

ID: 9514969
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-06 22:52:47.637277+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:06:23.316268
License: Public Domain

AMUNDSON, Retired Justice
(dissenting).
[¶ 15.] The Court is denying this worker’s- compensation claimant her right to an appellate review of this case on the merits. Reason being that counsel failed to-serve notice of appeal on the administrative law judge.. , Certain questions come to mind. Is the administrative law judge responsible to pay any benefits? Obviously not. If the appeal goes forward would the-administrative law judge have the right to file a brief and argue before the Court? Obviously not, The parties with a vested interest in the determination of the issues in this appeal have been served with notice and are aware of its' existence and the issues involved:
[¶ 16.] Should this Court require this claimant to seek recovery through another legal action such as legal malpractice? I think not. I would adhere to the policy established in International Union of Operating Engineers Local # 19 v. Aberdeen School District No. 6-1, even though not strictly on point, wherein this Court held:
Notices of appeal should be liberally construed in favor of their sufficiency. Kelly v. Kelly, 371 N.W.2d 193, 195 (Minn.1985). We agree generally that:
In considering the sufficiency of the content of the notice [of appeal,] ... if the intent of the appellant to appeal from a judgment may be inferred from the text of the notice and if the appellee has not been misled by the defect the appeal will be entertained. This more liberal rule of construction is consistent with our oft repeated preference for disposition of cases on the merits and not on mere technicalities. Blink v. McNabb, 287 N.W.2d 596, 598-99 (Iowa 1980) (citations omitted).
463 N.W.2d 843, 844 (emphasis added).
[¶ 17.] Is it fair that this claimant is out of court on this technicality when in essence allowing the appeal to proceed does not prejudice either the employer or the employee and certainly not the administrative law judge? NO, it is not fair that this claimant’s case is not disposed of on the merits. Cases should customarily be decided upon the merits. Roso v. Henning, 1997 SD 82, ¶ 12, 566 N.W.2d 136, 141.