Carrasco v. Phelps Dodge/Chino Mines

OPINION

HARTZ, Judge.

Phelps Dodge/Chino Mines (Employer) appeals the award to Samuel Carrasco (Worker) of a lump-sum payment of disability benefits to replace periodic payments. Employer contends that a portion of the lump-sum payment was not permitted by the Workers’ Compensation Administration Act because it was to pay a debt that had not accumulated during Worker’s disability. We agree and reverse.

The parties stipulated that Worker suffered a compensable injury on May 31, 1991 and that the controlling law is the 1990 enactment governing lump-sum payments. See Jojola v. Aetna Life &…