Vocational – Return to Work Matters: Public Policy

MONTANA SUPREME COURT DECISIONS

Murphy v. Montana State Fund [03/09/10] 2010 MTWCC 6 Section 39-71-105(3), MCA, states that an objective of the workers’ compensation system is to return a worker to work as soon as possible.  Where the claimant requested a lump sum conversion of his PTD benefits and presented the Court with a feasible self-employment venture, the Court concluded that in addition to the financial soundness of the claimant’s business plan, the claimant, his family, and his community would benefit by his return to work both through tangible financial return and through the intangible benefits that gainful employment would provide.