Court of Appeals of New Mexico
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ARMENDARIZ V. BERNALILLO CNTY. DETENTION CTR.
This memorandum opinion was not selected for publication in the New Mexico Appellate Reports. Please see Rule 12-405 NMRA for restrictions on the citation of unpublished memorandum opinions. Please also note that this electronic memorandum opinion may contain computer-generated errors or other deviations from the official paper version filed by the Court of Appeals and does not include the filing date.
JULIAN ARMENDARIZ,
Worker-Appellee,
v.
BERNALILLO COUNTY DETENTION,
CENTER and NEW MEXICO COUNTY
INSURANCE AUTHORITY,
Employer/Insurer-Appellants.
No. 32,888
COURT OF APPEALS OF NEW MEXICO
April 8, 2014
APPEAL FROM THE WORKERS’ COMPENSATION ADMINISTRATION,
Terry S. Kramer, Workers’ Compensation Judge
COUNSEL
Law Offices of Jeffrey C. Brown, Jeffrey C. Brown, Albuquerque, NM, for Appellee
Hoffman Kelley, LLP, Phyllis Savage Lynn, Keith D. Drennan, Albuquerque, NM, for Appellants
JUDGES
TIMOTHY L. GARCIA, Judge. WE CONCUR: JONATHAN B. SUTIN, Judge, M. MONICA ZAMORA, Judge
MEMORANDUM OPINION
GARCIA, Judge.
{1} Employer/Insurer appeals from the compensation order entered by the workers’ compensation judge (WCJ). On appeal, Employer/Insurer contends that the WCJ erred in concluding that Worker did not voluntarily remove himself from the workforce when Worker was terminated from the Bernalillo County Detention Center, and therefore also erred in concluding that Worker was entitled to temporary total disability benefits (TTD) and modifier benefits. This Court issued a calendar notice proposing to reverse, and Worker filed a memorandum in opposition. While this case was pending on the summary calendar, this Court issued its opinion in Hawkins v. McDonald’s, ___-NMCA-___, ___ P.3d ___ (No. 32,635, Dec. 17, 2013), cert. denied, 2014-NMSC-002 (No. 34,511, Feb. 12, 2014). We therefore issued a second calendar notice, this time relying on Hawkins, and proposed to affirm. Employer/Insurer has filed a memorandum in opposition to this Court’s second notice of proposed disposition. In its memorandum in opposition, Employer/Insurer concedes that “[i]f the interpretation of law put forth in Hawkins adequately balances the interests of the worker and the employer, Worker will be entitled to PPD and statute-based modifier benefits.” [2dMIO 1] However, Employer/Insurer argues that Hawkins “strikes an unfair balance against Employer[.]” [2dMIO 1] To the extent Employer/Insurer is asking this Court to reconsider Hawkins, we decline to do so. Given that Hawkins is the latest pronouncement from this Court on this issue, we apply the holding in Hawkins and affirm for the reasons stated in our second notice of proposed disposition.
{2} IT IS SO ORDERED.
TIMOTHY L. GARCIA, Judge
WE CONCUR:
JONATHAN B. SUTIN, Judge
M. MONICA ZAMORA, Judge