Rice v. Michigan Sugar Co.

I cannot agree that the law is as clear as the majority opinion suggests. At least three cases suggest that the one year back rule should apply in the instant case. In Loucks v Bauman, 356 Mich 514; 97 NW2d 321 (1959), plaintiff suffered an employment-related amputation of one leg and was paid specific loss benefits pursuant to the schedule. Some time after those benefits expired, he returned seeking total disability benefits, arguing that his other leg had also been rendered unstable and unusable by the injury to the left leg. In an opinion signed by three justices, Chief Justice Dethmers…