Prettyman v. Halliburton Co.

SIMMS, Justice:

This is an appeal by the workers’ compensation carrier from the trial court’s denial of its efforts to recover the amount of compensation benefits paid to its insured’s injured worker from proceeds of a settlement reached by the worker and the negligent third party responsible for his injury. Although the settlement exceeded the amount of the compensation paid, the trial court agreed with the worker’s argument that a 1975 amendment to 85 O.S.1971, § 44, required compromising the amount of the carrier’s claim, and the trial court compelled the insurer to accept a lesser sum as…