Palmer v. Bath Iron Works Corp.

McKUSICK, Chief Justice.

Sustaining Joel Palmer’s workers’ compensation appeal, we hold that the Early-Pay System, 39 M.R.S.A. § 51-B (Pamph.1988), imposes a duty on any employer that does not accept a claim for permanent impairment to file a timely notice of controversy, even if the employee’s notice of claim does not specify the precise percentage of impairment claimed. Palmer injured his back in 1984 in the course of his *341employment as a brick mason at the Bath Iron Works (BIW) shipyard. On April 2, 1986, BIW’s insurer, Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., received a letter from Palmer’s attorney…