In re the Pera Police & Fire Plan Line of Duty Disability Benefits of Brittain

I respectfully dissent. This is a case of statutory interpretation, which we review de novo. Brookfield Trade Ctr., Inc. v. County of Ramsey, 584 N.W.2d 390, 393 (Minn.1998). Yet “[w]hen the meaning of a statute is doubtful, courts should give great weight to a construction placed upon it by the Department charged with its administration.” Mammenga v. State Dept. of Human Servs., 442 N.W.2d 786, 792 (Minn.1989) (quotation omitted).

Relator claims that he is entitled to line-of-duty disability benefits because he was exposed to a hostile work environment over a period of. months, and that his…