Terms Used In Montana Code > Title 39 > Chapter 71 - Workers' Compensation

• agricultural: has the meaning provided in 15-1-101(1)(a). See Montana Code 39-71-118
• Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
• Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
• Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
• Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
• Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
• assistance: means the evaluation, planning, implementation, and provision of appropriate services prior to the determination that the worker meets the definition of a disabled worker that are designed to facilitate a worker's return to work as soon as possible following the worker's injury or occupational disease. See Montana Code 39-71-1011
• Assistance fund: means the stay-at-work/return-to-work assistance fund provided for in 39-71-1049. See Montana Code 39-71-1011
• assistance policy: means a written stay-at-work/return-to-work policy that explains to the worker the process of evaluation, planning, implementation, and provision of services by the insurer prior to the determination that the worker meets the definition of a disabled worker. See Montana Code 39-71-1011
• Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
• Bankruptcy: Refers to statutes and judicial proceedings involving persons or businesses that cannot pay their debts and seek the assistance of the court in getting a fresh start. Under the protection of the bankruptcy court, debtors may discharge their debts, perhaps by paying a portion of each debt. Bankruptcy judges preside over these proceedings.
• Beneficiary: A person who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds of a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan, annuity, or other contract. ^{Source: OCC}
• Board: means the board of directors of the Montana self-insurers guaranty fund. See Montana Code 39-71-2603
• Catastrophically injured: means a physical injury or occupational disease incurred by a worker to the extent that treatment for the injury or occupational disease:

  (a)requires inpatient care for at least 21 consecutive days in a hospital or rehabilitation center that is in Montana but that is more than 100 miles from the worker's place of residence; or

  (b)requires inpatient care for at least 21 consecutive days in a hospital or rehabilitation center that is located outside Montana; and

  (c)occurs within 90 days of the accident or events causing the worker to be catastrophically injured. See Montana Code 39-71-4003

• Certificate: means documentation issued by the department to an individual who is a person with a disability. See Montana Code 39-71-901
• Commission on rehabilitation counselor certification: means the nonprofit, independent, fee-structured organization that is a member of the national commission for health certifying agencies and that is established to certify rehabilitation providers. See Montana Code 39-71-1011
• Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
• Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
• Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
• Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
• Customary: means according to usage. See Montana Code 1-1-206
• Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
• Decedent: A deceased person.
• Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
• Disabled worker: means a worker who has a permanent impairment, established by objective medical findings, resulting from a work-related injury that precludes the worker from returning to the job the worker held at the time of the injury or to a job with similar physical requirements and who has an actual wage loss as a result of the injury. See Montana Code 39-71-1011
• Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
• Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. ^Source:
• Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
• employee or worker in this state: means :

  (a)a resident of Montana who is employed by an employer and whose employment duties are primarily carried out or controlled within this state;

  (b)a nonresident of Montana whose principal employment duties are conducted within this state on a regular basis for an employer;

  (c)a nonresident employee of an employer from another state engaged in the construction industry, as defined in 39-71-116, within this state; or

  (d)a nonresident of Montana who does not meet the requirements of subsection (8)(b) and whose employer elects coverage with an insurer that allows an election for an employer whose:

  (i)nonresident employees are hired in Montana;

  (ii)nonresident employees' wages are paid in Montana;

  (iii)nonresident employees are supervised in Montana; and

  (iv)business records are maintained in Montana. See Montana Code 39-71-118

• Entitlement: A Federal program or provision of law that requires payments to any person or unit of government that meets the eligibility criteria established by law. Entitlements constitute a binding obligation on the part of the Federal Government, and eligible recipients have legal recourse if the obligation is not fulfilled. Social Security and veterans' compensation and pensions are examples of entitlement programs.
• Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. ^{Source: U.S. Courts}
• Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
• Fair market value: The price at which an asset would change hands in a transaction between a willing, informed buyer and a willing, informed seller.
• Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
• Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
• Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
• Fund: means the subsequent injury fund in the proprietary fund category. See Montana Code 39-71-901
• Fund: means the Montana self-insurers guaranty fund established pursuant to 39-71-2609. See Montana Code 39-71-2603
• Garnishment: Generally, garnishment is a court proceeding in which a creditor asks a court to order a third party who owes money to the debtor or otherwise holds assets belonging to the debtor to turn over to the creditor any of the debtor
• Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
• Grace period: The number of days you'll have to pay your bill for purchases in full without triggering a finance charge. ^{Source: Federal Reserve}
• Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
• Indemnification: In general, a collateral contract or assurance under which one person agrees to secure another person against either anticipated financial losses or potential adverse legal consequences. ^{Source: FDIC}
• Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
• Insolvent private self-insurer: means an employer:

  (a)(i) that is unable to pay workers' compensation claims because:

  (A)it has been determined to be insolvent by a court of competent jurisdiction; or

  (B)bankruptcy proceedings have been instituted by or against it; or

  (ii)whose claims are not being paid on its behalf; and

  (b)whose security has been exhausted pursuant to 39-71-2108. See Montana Code 39-71-2603

• Interest rate: The amount paid by a borrower to a lender in exchange for the use of the lender's money for a certain period of time. Interest is paid on loans or on debt instruments, such as notes or bonds, either at regular intervals or as part of a lump sum payment when the issue matures. ^{Source: OCC}
• Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
• Knowingly: means only a knowledge that the facts exist which bring the act or omission within the provisions of this code. See Montana Code 1-1-204
• Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). ^{Source: OCC}
• Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
• Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
• Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
• Member: means an employer bound by compensation plan No. See Montana Code 39-71-2603
• Oath: includes an affirmation or declaration. See Montana Code 1-1-201
• Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
• Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
• Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
• Person with a disability: means a person who has a medically certifiable permanent impairment that is a substantial obstacle to obtaining employment or to obtaining reemployment if the person should become unemployed, considering such factors as the person's age, education, training, experience, and employment rejection. See Montana Code 39-71-901
• Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
• Pleadings: Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer.
• Presiding officer: A majority-party Senator who presides over the Senate and is charged with maintaining order and decorum, recognizing Members to speak, and interpreting the Senate's rules, practices and precedents.
• Private self-insurer: means a private employer bound by compensation plan No. See Montana Code 39-71-2603
• Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
• Process: means a writ or summons issued in the course of judicial proceedings. See Montana Code 1-1-202
• Property: means real and personal property. See Montana Code 1-1-205
• Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
• Rehabilitation benefits: means benefits provided in 39-71-1006 and 39-71-1025. See Montana Code 39-71-1011
• Rehabilitation plan: means a written individualized plan that assists a disabled worker in acquiring skills or aptitudes to return to work through job placement, on-the-job training, education, training, or specialized job modification and that reasonably reduces the worker's actual wage loss. See Montana Code 39-71-1011
• Rehabilitation provider: means a rehabilitation counselor certified by the commission on rehabilitation counselor certification and designated by the insurer. See Montana Code 39-71-1011
• Rehabilitation services: means a program of evaluation, planning, and implementation of a rehabilitation plan to assist a disabled worker to return to work. See Montana Code 39-71-1011
• Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
• Remand: When an appellate court sends a case back to a lower court for further proceedings.
• Rescission: The cancellation of budget authority previously provided by Congress. The Impoundment Control Act of 1974 specifies that the President may propose to Congress that funds be rescinded. If both Houses have not approved a rescission proposal (by passing legislation) within 45 days of continuous session, any funds being withheld must be made available for obligation.
• Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
• safety consultation services: means assistance rendered by an insurer or the department to advise and aid an employer in the identification, evaluation, and control of existing and potential accidental and occupational health problems. See Montana Code 39-71-1503
• Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
• State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See Montana Code 1-1-201
• Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
• Statute of limitations: A law that sets the time within which parties must take action to enforce their rights.
• Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
• Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
• Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
• United States: includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See Montana Code 1-1-201
• Usual: means according to usage. See Montana Code 1-1-206
• Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.
• volunteer: means a person who performs services on behalf of an employer, as defined in 39-71-117, but who does not receive wages as defined in 39-71-123. See Montana Code 39-71-118
• volunteer emergency care provider: means a person who is licensed by the board of medical examiners as provided in Title 50, chapter 6, part 2, and who serves the public through an ambulance service not otherwise covered by subsection (1)(g) or a paid or volunteer nontransporting medical unit, as defined in 50-6-302, in service to a town, city, or county. See Montana Code 39-71-118
• volunteer hours: means the time spent by a volunteer emergency care provider in the service of an employer or as a volunteer for a town, city, or county, including but not limited to training time, response time, and time spent at the employer's premises. See Montana Code 39-71-118
• Willfully: when applied to the intent with which an act is done or omitted, means a purpose or willingness to commit the act or make the omission referred to. See Montana Code 1-1-204
• worker: means :

  (a)each person in this state, including a contractor other than an independent contractor, who is in the service of an employer, as defined by 39-71-117, under any appointment or contract of hire, expressed or implied, oral or written. See Montana Code 39-71-118

• Worker: has the meaning as provided in 39-71-118. See Montana Code 39-71-4003