MEMORANDUM - December 30, 1992
Section 31-284b
| TO: | All Compensation District Offices, Commissioners, Self-Insureds, Insurance Carriers, Attorneys, Unions, CBIA and WC Advisory Board |
| FROM: | Jesse M. Frankl, Chairman |
| DATE: | December 30, 1992 |
| RE: | Section 31-284b |
Effective immediately, the Workers' Compensation Commission district offices will not hold informal or formal hearings dealing with Section 31-284b cases except if the claimant is a municipal or state employee.
The U.S. Supreme Court on December 14, 1992 in the case of District of Columbia v. Greater Washington Board of Trade 61 USLW 4039 ____S. Ct. ____(1992) has ruled by an 8 to 1 decision that a District of Columbia statute, which is similarly worded to Connecticut's § 31-284b, was unconstitutional. However, our belief that municipalities and the State of Connecticut are specifically exempt is based on the ERISA statute itself which exempts governmental plans from coverage.
There are presently three cases pending before the Connecticut Supreme Court dealing with this statute:
Frank Luis v. Frito Lay
Albert Almeida v. Frito Lay
Roger Turcotte v. Frito Lay
Docket No. SC 14536, Frank Luis, et al v. Frito Lay
The Supreme Court may have a more specific ruling dealing with this statute.