Bare v. Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance

¶1 Michael Bare appeals from the order and judgment of the Workers’ Compensation Court. The court dismissed Bare’s claim for permanent total disability benefits pursuant to § 39-71-702, MCA (1989), because he had failed to exhaust the rehabilitation panel procedures set forth at §§ 39-71-1012 through 39-71-1033, MCA (1989). We affirm.

¶2 The issue before this Court is whether the Workers’ Compensation Court erred when it dismissed Bare’s petition on the basis that it lacked jurisdiction to determine a claimant’s disability status under the 1989 version of the Workers’ Compensation Act prior to…