Stozicki v. Allied Paper Co., Inc., 464 Mich. 257

627 N.W.2d 293 (2001) · Supreme Court of Michigan · June 12, 2001 · No. 117242

Summary

The Supreme Court of Michigan held that Michigan's workers' compensation statutes prohibit simultaneous application of the age-65 reduction under MCL 418.357 and benefit coordination under MCL 418.354, but do not make an employer's initial choice between those provisions irrevocable. The court reversed the Workers' Compensation Appellate Commission and remanded for further proceedings.

Holdings

  1. Section 357(2) prohibits an employer from simultaneously applying the section 357 age reduction and coordinating benefits under section 354, but it does not prohibit the employer from switching from one statutory reduction method to the other.
  2. Saraski improperly interpreted section 357(2) by reading an irrevocable-election requirement into the statute.

Questions Presented

  1. Whether section 357(2) of the Michigan Workers' Disability Compensation Act prohibits an employer from switching from the age-65 reduction under section 357 to coordination of benefits under section 354 after the section 357 reduction has been applied.
  2. Whether the employer's initial choice between section 354 coordination and section 357 reduction is irrevocable.

Disposition

reversed_and_remanded

Cases Cited (9)

  • Saraski v. Dexter Davison Kosher Meat & Poultry, 206 Mich. App. 347, 520 N.W.2d 383 (1994)(overruled)
  • Krueger v. Simplicity Pattern Co., 196 Mich. App. 212, 492 N.W.2d 790 (1992), vacated, 442 Mich. 912, 503 N.W.2d 448 (1993)(discussed)
  • Franks v. White Pine Copper Division, 422 Mich. 636, 375 N.W.2d 715 (1985)(discussed)
  • Brown v. Michigan Health Care Corp., 463 Mich. 368, 374, 617 N.W.2d 301 (2000)(followed)
  • Sands Appliance Services, Inc. v. Wilson, 463 Mich. 231, 238, 615 N.W.2d 241 (2000)(followed)
  • In re MCI Telecommunications Complaint, 460 Mich. 396, 411, 596 N.W.2d 164 (1999)(followed)
  • Northern Concrete Pipe, Inc. v. Sinacola Companies-Midwest, Inc., 461 Mich. 316, 320, 603 N.W.2d 257 (1999)(followed)
  • Hatch v. Grand Haven Charter Township, 461 Mich. 457, 464, 606 N.W.2d 633 (2000)(followed)
  • Donajkowski v. Alpena Power Co., 460 Mich. 243, 261, 596 N.W.2d 574 (1999)(discussed)

Cited In (0)

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