Am. Mut. Ins. Companies v. Murray, 420 A.2d 251 (Me. 1980). · Go Syfert
Am. Mut. Ins. Companies v. Murray, 420 A.2d 251 (Me. 1980). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
47 citation events (13 in the last 25 years) across 8 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Roger Desgrosseilliers v. Auburn Sheet Metal at al. (me, 2021-12-16)
Treatment trajectory · 1982 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1982 2004 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 20 distinct citers. How cited ↗
cited Cited as authority (rule) Roger Desgrosseilliers v. Auburn Sheet Metal at al.
Me. · 2021 · confidence medium
Cos. v. Murray, 420 A.2d 251, 252 (Me. 1980). 13 III.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Victor Sunshine v. Stephen M. Brett (2×)
Me. · 2014 · confidence medium
Cos. v. Murray, 420 A.2d 251, 252 (Me. 1980).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Doucette v. Hallsmith/Sysco Food Services, Inc.
Me. · 2010 · confidence medium
Cos. v. Murray, 420 A.2d 251, 252 (Me.1980) (holding lack of a provision for repayment of benefits after employer’s successful appeal is a question to be addressed by the Legislature); Ryerson v. Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, 495 A.2d 808, 812 (Me.1985) (“[T]he practical and legal difficulties of recovering the medical payments were presumably well known to the [Legislature when it comprehensively directed that ‘compensation’ without limitation was due and payable within 10 days after a commission order.”). [¶ 6] Because there is an express provision requiring payment of an award pendin…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Maine Ass'n of Health Plans v. Superintendent of Insurance (2×)
Me. · 2007 · confidence medium
Cos. v. Murray, 420 A.2d 251, 252 (Me.1980).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Gallipo v. City of Rutland
Vt. · 2005 · confidence medium
Cos. v. Murray, 420 A.2d 251, 252 (Me. 1980) (per curiam) (explaining that court should not create a right to restitution in an entirely statutory area of the law with broad social policy implications); St.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Bell v. Walton
Me. · 2004 · confidence medium
Cos. v. Murray, 420 A.2d 251, 252 (Me.1980) (“In the absence of an express legislative command or a clear indication of legislative intention, we leave the parties where the legislature left them.”). [¶ 12] Here, the court properly concluded that Bell had not voluntarily withdrawn from Bangor Metal Works because the bright line afforded by section 692(3)’s written notice requirement had not been crossed. 3 The entry is: Judgment affirmed. .
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Grubb v. S.D. Warren Co. (2×)
Me. · 2003 · confidence medium
Cos. v. Murray, 420 A.2d 251, 252 (Me.1980).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Goff v. Central Maine Power Co.
Me. · 1998 · confidence medium
Cos. v. Murray, 420 A.2d 251, 252 (Me.1980) (employer not entitled to recover overpayments during unsuccessful appeal by employee); Page v. General Elec.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Philip Electronics North America v. Wright (2×)
Md. · 1997 · confidence medium
Cos. v. Murray, 420 A.2d 251, 251-52 (Me.1980); AT&T Network Systems v. Broussard, 885 P.2d 684, 686 (Okla.Ct.App.1994); see Croft v. Pan Alaska Trucking, Inc., 820 P.2d 1064, 1066-67 (Alaska 1991); see also Petroleum Helicopters v. Nancy T.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Bureau v. Staffing Network, Inc.
Me. · 1996 · confidence medium
Co. v. Murray, 420 A.2d 251, 252 (Me.1980)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Beaulieu v. Maine Medical Center
Me. · 1996 · confidence medium
Co. v. Murray, 420 A.2d 251, 252 (Me.1980). 2 The entry is: The decision of the Workers’ Compensation Board in Beaulieu v. Maine Medical Center, WCB-95-43, is affirmed.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) LaRochelle v. Crest Shoe Co. (2×)
Me. · 1995 · confidence medium
As we noted in American Mutual Insurance Co. v. Murray, 420 A.2d 251, 252 (Me.1980), the Commission has no authority to order the reimbursement of overpayments made prior to appeal other than that which is expressly granted in the Act.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Li v. C.N. Brown Co. (2×)
Me. · 1994 · confidence medium
Co. v. Murray, 420 A.2d 251, 252 (Me.1980).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Keyes Fibre Co. v. Lamarre
Me. · 1992 · confidence medium
Companies v. Murray, 420 A.2d 251, 252 (Me.1980); 39 M.R.S.A. § 104-A. Because, as a matter of law, it was Lamarre who had the property interest in the money at the time of the alleged conversion, the trial court erred in not rendering a summary judgment for La-marre on Count II of Keyes’ complaint.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Fanion v. McNeal (2×)
Me. · 1990 · confidence medium
Co. v. Murray, 420 A.2d 251, 252 (Me.1980) (absent a clear command from the legislature, the court will not engraft common law rules on to the statutory scheme of workers' compensation to establish social policy).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Daigle v. Daigle (2×)
Me. · 1986 · confidence medium
It asserts that the legislature, by its failure to amend section 63 to cover the self employment situation, must have intended to require that the self-employed claimant notify the insurer. [3] We have previously noted, in Wentzell v. Timberlands, Inc., 412 A.2d 1213, 1215 (1980), that unlike other fields "in which the law has generally developed through judicial decision, the law of workers' compensation is uniquely statutory." See also American Mutual Insurance Companies v. Murray, 420 A.2d 251, 252 (Me.1980).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Pelotte v. Purolator Courier Corp.
Me. · 1983 · confidence medium
As we noted in Wentzell v. Timberlands, Inc., 412 A.2d 1213, 1215 (Me.1980), “unlike fields such as torts and contracts in which the law has generally developed through judicial decision, the law of workers’ compensation is uniquely statutory.” See American Mutual Insurance Companies v. Murray, 420 A.2d 251, 252 (Me.1980).
cited Cited "see" Colorado Compensation Insurance Authority v. Baker
Colo. Ct. App. · 1998 · signal: see · confidence high
See American Mutual Insurance Cos. v. Murray, 420 A.2d 251 (Me.1980); State Accident Insurance Fund Corp. v. Harris, 66 Or.App. 165 , 672 P.2d 1384 (1983).
cited Cited "see" Wallace v. City of South Portland
Me. · 1991 · signal: see · confidence high
See American Mutual Insurance Company v. Murray, 420 A.2d 251 (Me. 1980) (per curiam).
discussed Cited "see" Terry v. St. Regis Paper Co. (2×)
Me. · 1983 · signal: see · confidence high
See American Mutual Insurance Co. v. Murray, 420 A.2d 251, 252 (Me.1980); Wentzell v. Timberlands, Inc., 412 A.2d 1213, 1215 (Me.1980).
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
AMERICAN MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANIES
v.
Frank W. MURRAY
Supreme Judicial Court of Maine.
Oct 2, 1980.
420 A.2d 251
Robinson & Kriger, Sarah Allison Thornton, Bradley M. Wilson (orally), Portland, for plaintiff., Berman, Berman & Simmons, John E. Sedgewick (orally), Jack H. Simmons, Lewi-ston, for defendant.
Glassman, Godfrey, McKUSICK, Roberts, Wer-Nick.
Cited by 36 opinions  |  Published
PER CURIAM.

A case which we previously described as “unusual” has become more unusual. In March, 1979, we vacated a decree of the Workers’ Compensation Commission awarding compensation because the petitioner, Frank W. Murray, had failed to satisfy the notice provision of 39 M.R.S.A. §§ 63, 64. Murray v. T. W. Dick Co., Me., 398 A.2d 390 (1979). Thereafter, American Mutual Insurance Companies (American) commenced an action against Murray seeking to recover upon the theory of unjust enrichment the sum of $26,598.54 paid as periodic compensation while the appeal was pending, as required by 39 M.R.S.A. § 104-A. [1] Upon Murray’s motion under M.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6), the Superior Court dismissed the complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. American seasonably appealed. We affirm the judgment of dismissal.

We cannot find, by implication, an intention on the part of the legislature either to deny recovery of such payments or to create[*252] a right of recovery. The legislative record reveals that the legislature intended not to deal with the question. The debate on Chapter 333 in both the House and the Senate reflected an awareness that there was no pay-back provision and that the question was to be left to the courts. 1 Me.Leg.Rec., 108th Leg., 1st Reg.Session, 1977, at 1007 (House debate); 2 Me.Leg. Rec., 108th Leg., 1st Reg.Session, 1977, at 1134 and 1296, 1297 (Senate debate). Although recovery was a competent subject for legislative enactment, the legislature deliberately chose to be silent. At oral argument, both parties suggested that the issue be decided in accordance with common law principles.

We note that the complaint contains no allegation of fraud or suggestion of fraudulent conduct on the part of Murray. No suggestion has been presented to this court that American could, by way of amendment, add anything of significance to its complaint. The issue is squarely presented whether American can recover payments mandated by the Workers’ Compensation Act in the absence of any statutory direction or requirement of repayment.

Clearly the question of recovery was within the competence of the legislature when it amended section 104-A. Denial of recovery, whether expressly or by implication, has been found to comport with due process. See, e. g., Hartford Accident & Indemnity Co. v. Duvall, 113 N.H. 28, 300 A.2d 732 (1973); Tompkins v. Rinner Construction Co., 196 Kan. 244, 409 P.2d 1001 (1966); St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Co. v. Treadwell, 263 Md. 430, 283 A.2d 601 (1971); McAvoy v. H. B. Sherman Co., 401 Mich. 419, 435-438, 258 N.W.2d 414, 422-423 (1977).

In Wentzell v. Timberlands, Inc., Me., 412 A.2d 1213, 1215 (1980), we noted that “unlike fields such as torts and contracts in which the law has generally developed through judicial decision, the law of workers’ compensation is uniquely statutory.” Whether, when the worker has lost on appeal, the beneficent purposes of our workers’ compensation law would be frustrated by a rule requiring repayment of benefits paid pursuant to the mandate of 39 M.R.S.A. § 104-A is a question to be addressed by the legislature. To attempt to resolve this question by engrafting upon the statutory scheme judicially created doctrines of restitution would involve us in the establishment of broad social policy in a field of law created by the legislature in response to legislative dissatisfaction with judicial solutions to the problems of compensation for workers injured in industrial accidents. We are not asked to construe the Workers’ Compensation Act; rather, we are asked to establish policy in this uniquely statutory field when the legislature has deliberately elected to remain silent. In the absence of an express legislative command or a clear indication of legislative intention, we leave the parties where the legislature left them.

The entry is:

Judgment of dismissal affirmed.

All concurring.

1

. The present version of § 104-A was enacted by P.L. 1977, ch. 333. The previous version did not require payment by the employer pending appeal.