The Utah Supreme Court on Thursday determined that a trial judge correctly ruled against a school district in a reimbursement dispute with a former special education teacher injured by her students.
The high court said the trial court properly ruled that a matter brought by the Granite School District against the teacher over settlement proceeds she received in a third-party lawsuit belongs in front of the state’s Labor Commission, not before a judge.
After receiving workers compensation benefits, the teacher sued a medical debt collection agency that she said attempted to secure payments for treatment she had received.
Even with comp benefits, the teacher was unable to pay some of her medical bills and her creditors eventually hired a collection agency to recover the debt.
That case ultimately resulted in a settlement for the teacher, after which the school district sought reimbursement for comp medical payments. It argued the settlement proceeds were for pain and suffering related to the debt collection practices not for work injuries.
A trial judge agreed with the teacher that any dispute reimbursement must be heard by the Labor Commission, which has exclusive jurisdiction.
The Supreme Court said the school district correctly noted trial courts generally have jurisdiction over reimbursement disputes, but this case differs from others since only the Labor Commission can decide factual questions involving workers comp claims.