Warner v. Collavino Bros.

Mar 22, 1984

Docket 72386

Versions:347 N.W.2d 787

133 Mich. App. 230

Per Curiam.

Plaintiff sought leave to appeal to this Court from an order of the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board (WCAB) denying him recovery of a penalty payment. This Court denied plaintiffs application in an order dated September 24, 1982, Docket No. 65611, and plaintiff sought leave to appeal in the Supreme Court. On June 21, 1983, the Supreme Court entered an order remanding the instant case to this Court for consideration of whether the "no ongoing dispute” exception to the penalty provision of MCL 418.801; MSA 17.237(801) should be interpreted as requiring a good-faith dispute, 417 Mich 1016 (1983).

Plaintiff was injured during the course of his employment with Collavino Brothers (hereinafter defendant) on January 23, 1980. Plaintiff was initially treated by a medical doctor and defendant began paying worker’s compensation benefits. On February 5, 1980, plaintiff sought treatment with a chiropractor because he felt the medical doctor’s treatment was "hurting worse than it was helping”. Although plaintiff thereafter missed two sessions with the medical doctor, he saw him on March 3, 1980. On March 4, 1980, the medical doctor sent a report to defendant indicating that plaintiff was "disabled indefinitely”. Nevertheless, on March 21, 1980, plaintiffs benefits were discontinued by defendant.

On April 7, 1980, plaintiff filed a petition for a hearing with the Bureau of Workers’ Disability *234 Compensation. On April 25, 1980, defendant filed a notice of dispute form stating that because it had not received medical verification of disability from plaintiffs chiropractor it had ceased making payments. Defendant resumed paying benefits on May 22, 1980.

On March 11, 1981, a hearing was held on plaintiff’s claim that he was entitled to receive various late payment penalties because of the temporary suspension of his benefits in April and May of 1980. The hearing referee denied plaintiff’s claim for a penalty payment. The referee’s decision was affirmed by the appeal board which concluded that although defendant was not justified in terminating plaintiff’s benefits, an "ongoing” dispute within the meaning of MCL 418.801(2); MSA 17.237(801X2) existed between the parties and prevented plaintiff from recovering a penalty payment.

MCL 418.861; MSA 17.237(861) provides this Court authority to review questions of law involved in any final order of the WCAB. Aquilina v General Motors Corp, 403 Mich 206, 213; 267 NW2d 923 (1978). The question of law presented here is whether the WCAB correctly construed the "ongoing dispute” provision of MCL 418.801(2); MSA 17.237(801)(2) to preclude recovery by plaintiff of a penalty payment. The board held that, even though defendant’s position in the dispute was "untenable”, a dispute did exist and plaintiff was, therefore, barred from recovery of a penalty. We affirm.

Benefits are due and payable on the 14th day after the employer has notice of the employee’s injury. MCL 418.801(1); MSA 17.237(801)(1). An employer who disputes an employee’s claim, however, has the right to apply to the bureau for a *235 hearing before a referee. MCL 418.847; MSA 17.237(847). An award is to be considered "in dispute” while review or appeal is pending and during the time periods permitted for filing a claim for review or of appeal. Charpentier v Canteen Corp, 105 Mich app 700, 705; 307 NW2d 704 (1981), lv den 412 Mich 887 (1981).

Plaintiff urges this Court to interpret MCL 418.801(2); MSA 17.237(801X2) as requiring a "good faith” dispute in order to stay application of the penalty. This identical issue was before this Court in Couture v General Motors Corp, 125 Mich App 174; 335 NW2d 668 (1983). In a per curiam opinion the panel held that the WCAB did not have "the power to make a qualitative determination of the merits of a defense for the purpose of assessing a penalty. The statute simply provides that there must be no ongoing 'dispute’ ”. Id., p 178. The Court ruled that the statute did not authorize the WCAB to impose a penalty for an employer’s bad faith refusal to pay a claim.

We agree with the Couture Court’s interpretation of the penalty provision. The cardinal rule of statutory construction is to ascertain and effectuate the intent of the Legislature. Melia v Employment Security Comm, 346 Mich 544, 562; 78 NW2d 273 (1956). This Court must first look to the specific language of the statutory provision, giving all terms their plain and ordinary meaning. Lamphere Schools v Lamphere Federation of Teachers, 400 Mich 104, 110; 252 NW2d 818 (1977). In construing a statute, this Court will presume that the Legislature is familiar with principles of statutory construction. People v Hall, 391 Mich 175; 215 NW2d 166 (1974). A statute unambiguous on its face will not be subject to further interpretation or construction. Detroit v Redford Twp, 253 Mich 453; *236 235 NW 217 (1931). On its face MCL 418.801(2); MSA 17.237(801)(2) merely requires an "ongoing dispute” and does not distinguish good faith disputes from bad faith or unreasonable disputes. Moreover, the plain and ordinary meaning of the word "dispute” does not encompass such a distinction.

The cases cited by plaintiff from other jurisdictions are inapposite. In each case where the penalty was enforced, the foreign court was guided by specific statutory language regarding the unreasonableness, vexatiousness, or frivolousness of the employer’s position. See 3 Larson, Workmen’s Compensation Law, § 83.40. No such terms modify the "ongoing dispute” provision in the Michigan statute.

Plaintiff argues that implying a bad faith exception furthers the policies of the Worker’s Disability Compensation Act. However, other provisions of the act explicitly reveal the Legislature’s desire to further its purposes by imposing a "reasonable” or "good faith” condition. MCL 418.319; MSA 17.237(319) provides that if an employee’s refusal to accept rehabilitation is "unjustified]”, then the employee will be subject to a loss or reduction of compensation. As noted by this Court in Couture, supra, p 178, the Legislature expressed in explicit terms its intention to deter bad faith refusals to pay meritorious claims in no-fault insurance legislation. See MCL 500.2006(4); MSA 24.12006(4).

From our reading of similar statutes, we infer that the Legislature was aware that prompt payment of compensation benefits could be encouraged by imposing a penalty for the bad faith denial of payments. In the absence of such an express provision in MCL 418.801(2); MSA 17.237(801X2), we hold that the board’s finding that an employer *237 disputed a claim in bad faith will not justify the assessing of a penalty against the employer.

Although the WCAB found the defendant’s position to have been "untenable”, the board made a factual determination that a dispute did exist. This determination involved review of conflicting testimony and evaluations of credibility. The finding of the existence of a dispute was based on defendant’s filing of a notice of dispute and testimony that defendant failed to receive, though requested, medical substantiation of a continuing disability from plaintiffs chiropractor. In the absence of fraud, this Court will not overturn the board’s factual findings where they are supported by some competent evidence. Const 1963, art 6, § 28; MCL 418.861; MSA 17.237(861); Aquilina v General Motors, supra, p 213. Accordingly, the board’s order denying plaintiff recovery of a penalty payment is affirmed.

Affirmed.