Sowders ex rel. Sowders v. MFG Drilling Co.

OPINION

WOOD, Judge.

Defendants appeal from the award of lump-sum compensation for the benefit of a deceased worker’s minor children. We proposed summary affirmance. Defendants filed a timely memorandum in opposition. Having considered defendants’ arguments, we affirm.

The sole issue in this appeal is the propriety of a lump-sum award. The statutory authority for making a lump-sum award is found in NMSA 1978, Section 52-l-30(B). A lump-sum payment may not be awarded solely because, if invested, the lump sum would produce more benefits than would be realized from weekly payments. Merrifield v.…