Superior Court limits amount recoverable under worker's compensation lien

In Curry v. Great Am. Ins. Co., 2010 WL 1795375, the Superior Court held that the recovery under a lien of a worker's compensation carrier in a wrongful death case was limited to the portion of damages allocated to loss of net expected income of the next of kin of the deceased. The worker's compensation carrier was not entitled to the portions of the damages allocated to conscious pain and suffering or loss of consortium. Its recovery was so limited because damages for loss of net expected income represented benefits "that are duplicated by the worker's compensation benefits."

The court also held that the insurer and the plaintiffs must each pay their proportionate share of the legal fees and costs in the wrongful death action.