Court Opinion

ID: 9561065
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 18:02:13.149507+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:13:30.993062
License: Public Domain

Duckworth, Chief Justice,
dissenting. 1. If the legislature made a mistake when it said plainly that the entire workmen’s compensation statute, which includes the subrogation section upon which this case depends, does not apply to railroads (Code §§ 114-107, 114-108), the only constitutional way to correct that mistake is by legislative amendment and not by judicial fiat. Courts have a duty to accept unambiguous legislation and not to change it on the pretense of construction when it needs no construction. I would hold the subrogation section inapplicable to this railroad.
2. But, if it is held to apply, then I would hold it unconstitutional in that it denies due process and equal protection when it prevents a tortfeasor from reaching a friendly and mutually acceptable settlement.
I am authorized to state that Justice Nichols concurs in this dissent.