MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Insurance

By: Senator(s) Williamson

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 71-3-71, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, UNDER THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW, TO REVISE THE DISBURSEMENT OF MONEY RECOVERED FOR COMPENSATION FOR INJURIES WHERE THIRD PARTIES ARE LIABLE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 71-3-71, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

71-3-71. The acceptance of compensation benefits from or the making of a claim for compensation against an employer or insurer for the injury or death of an employee shall not affect the right of the employee or his dependents to sue any other party at law for such injury or death, but the employer or his insurer shall be entitled to reasonable notice and opportunity to join in any such action or may intervene therein. If such employer or insurer join in such action and pay an equal share of litigation expenses which have been incurred at the time of their joiner or intervention, and as incurred thereafter, then they shall be entitled to repayment of the amount paid by them as compensation and medical expenses (less their pro rata share of costs of collection and litigation expenses and less the percentage of any comparative fault assessed to the employer) after the employee has been made whole.

The commencement of an action by an employee or his dependents (or legal representative) against a third party for damages by reason of the injury, or the adjustment of any such claim, shall not affect the right of the injured employee or his dependents (or legal representative) to recover compensation, but any amount recovered by the injured employee or his dependents (or legal representative) from a third party shall be applied as follows: reasonable costs of collection as approved and allowed by the court in which such action is pending, or by the commission of this state in case of settlement without suit, shall be deducted; the remainder shall be first applied to make the employee or his legal representative whole from the damages caused by the defendant plus any damages caused by any negligent, or wrongful act of the employer, if any. After making the employee whole, any remaining proceeds from such action shall then be applied to repayment of the amount paid by the carrier or self-insured as compensation and medical expenses. The employee or his dependents bringing suit against the third party must notify the employer or carrier within fifteen days of the filing of such suit.

If the injured employee or his beneficiaries decline to bring an action at law after having been duly notified by the employer or compensation insurer of its intent to bring such a suit, an employer or compensation insurer who shall have paid compensation benefits under this chapter for the injury or death of the employee shall have the right to maintain an action at law against any other party responsible for such injury or death, in the name of such injured employee or his beneficiaries, or in the name of such employer or insurer, or any or all of them. If reasonable notice and opportunity to be represented in such action by counsel shall have been given to the compensation beneficiary, all claims of such compensation beneficiary shall be determined in such action, as well as the claim of the employer or insurer. If recovery shall be had against such other party, by suit or otherwise, by the action brought by the employer or compensation carrier as provided in this paragraph, then they shall be entitled to repayment of the amounts paid by them as compensation and medical expenses first. If suit is brought by the insurance carrier on self-insured under this provision, the compensation beneficiary shall be entitled to any amount recovered over and above the amount that the employer and insurer shall have paid or are liable for in compensation or other benefits, after deducting the reasonable costs of collection.

In case of settlement of any action before the trial thereof, such settlement shall be subject to the approval of the court wherein such action is pending, and settlement before an action is brought shall be subject to the approval of the commission. Distribution of the portion belonging to the dependents shall be made among such dependents in the manner provided in this chapter.

In case of liability of the employer or insurer to make payment to the state treasury under the second injury fund provisions, if the injury or death creates a legal liability against a third party, the employer or insurer shall have a right of action against such third party for reimbursement of any sum so paid into the state treasury, which right may be enforced in the action heretofore provided or by an independent action.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2000.