Eddington Estate v. Eppert Oil Co.

In this case we are called upon to determine the extent to which an employer, or workers’ compensation carrier, is entitled to seek reimbursement from a third-party tort recovery obtained as a result of the death of an employee. See MCL 418.827(5); MSA 17.237(827)(5). We would hold that an employer or workers’ compensation carrier is entitled to seek reimbursement from the entire amount of the third-party tort recovery obtained as a result of the death of an employee regardless of the classification of the damages, i.e., economic or noneconomic, or whether the recipient of the proceeds was…