Stickles v. United Parcel Service

HORNBY, Justice.

In these consolidated cases we examine the “Early Pay System” added to Maine’s Workers’ Compensation Act in 1983. 39 M.R.S.A. § 51-B (Pamph.1988). We conclude that, by failing to file a notice of controversy within 44 days from the time an employee tells an employer that lost work time is caused by a work-related injury, the employer accepts compensability of the injury at the level of the employee’s claim until it persuades the Commission to reduce the award on a petition for review. We vacate the judgments of the Appellate Division and remand for further proceedings in light…