Bruton v. Smithfield Foods, Inc.

The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the workers’ compensation court of appeals (WCCA) reversing the workers’ compensation judge’s dismissal of Respondent’s petition for temporary total disability (TTD) benefits under the Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Act, holding that there is no statutory authority for an offset of workers’ compensation benefits by the amount of benefits paid under an employer’s self-funded, self-administered short-term disability (STD) plan.After awarded TTD benefits to Respondent, the compensation judge determined that Respondent’s employer (Employer) was entitled to offset those benefits by the amount of STD benefits already paid. Because Employer had already paid STD benefits in essentially the same amount that would be owed as TTD benefits, the compensation judge then dismissed Respondent’s petition. The WCCA reversed. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that the WCCA did not err in determining the Employer was not entitled to offset its workers’ compensation liability to Respondent by the amount of STD benefits it paid to Respondent. View "Bruton v. Smithfield Foods, Inc." on Justia Law