Skryha v. Pennsylvania National Mutual Casualty Insurance

The opinion of the court was delivered by

PRESSLER, P.J.A.D.

This appeal poses a novel question respecting the interrelationship of benefits afforded by the Workers’ Compensation Law, N.J.S.A. 34:15-1, et seq., and the Automobile Reparation Reform Act (no fault law), N.J.S.A. 39:6A-1, et seq. More specifically, the issue before us is whether the collateral source rule of N.J.S.A. 39:6A-6 bars the recovery of survivor’s essential services benefits by the widow of a decedent whose accidental death also entitles her to death benefits under the Workers’ Compensation Law. We hold that it does not.

The…