Montana Chamber intervenes in Saterlee Workers Comp Case
The Montana Supreme Court has approved a motion to allow the Montana Chamber of Commerce to intervene in Satterlee v. Lumberman’s Mutual, a work comp case that businesses are watching closely.
“We are pleased the Montana Supreme Court is allowing the Montana Chamber to be the voice for employers and business owners in this important case,” said Jon Bennion, Government Relations Director and attorney for the Montana Chamber.
In Satterlee, the plaintiffs have asked the Court to throw out a statute that prohibits a person from receiving permanent total disability payments after a worker is eligible for retirement benefits, such as Social Security (MCA § 39-71-710). The Workers’ Compensation Court ruled against the plaintiffs and upheld the law as passed by the Legislature. The Montana Chamber also intervened in the Workers’ Compensation Court case.
The Old Fund, which was established to compensate injuries prior to 1990, could take a hit of up to $130 million, and the new State Fund could pay out $163 million, including retroactive payments to claimants whose benefits stopped when they turned 65. These new costs would lead to increased premium costs for companies that currently pay into the system.
“Many small businesses are already struggling to pay the extremely high work comp premiums,” said Bennion. ”A ruling against small businesses in this case would only drive up those rates further and could push some out of business altogether.”
A work comp premium study conducted in 2006 showed that Montana had the 5th highest premiums in the country. All of Montana’s neighbors had some of the cheapest premiums in the country. The study is set to be updated sometime this month.
For more information on the Satterlee case and the Montana Chamber’s position, please contact Jon Bennion at 442-2405, ext. 104, or email him at
jon@montanachamber.com
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Jon Bennion
Government Relations Director
Montana
Chamber of Commerce
406 442-2405, ext. 104
jon@montanachamber.com
Montana Main Street
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