Medical Benefits Must Be Apportioned in Occupational Disease Claims

The Utah Supreme Court issued two cases on Tuesday that reversed the Utah Labor Commission’s interpretation of the Utah Occupational Disease Act. The Labor Commission had interpreted the act to provide that an employer was required to reimburse 100% of an employee’s medical expenses for a condition caused by an occupational disease even if the employee’s work was only a contributing factor to the development of the disease. For example, if an employee suffered carpal tunnel syndrome and it was determined that the workplace contributed only 10% to the development of the condition, the Utah Labor Commission required the employer to pay 100% of the medical expenses.

In two companion cases, Smith v. Utah Labor Commission and Ameritech v. Utah Labor Commission, the Utah Supreme Court said the Labor Commission was wrong, and the Court interpreted the statute to require the employer to only pay its proportionate share of the medical expenses.