In the matter of the arbitration between Cristian Klinefelter, Respondent, vs. Crum and Forster Insurance Company, Appellant., 675 N.W.2d 330

Summary

The insured was injured in an accident while driving his own car in the performance of work for his employer. The workers' compensation carrier paid benefits to the insured for several months and then terminated benefits as the insured changed doctors without prior consent from the carrier in violation of a workers' compensation rule. The insured then sought and received no-fault benefits from the insurer after an arbitration. The insured filed a second claim for workers' compensation benefits that was denied, but did receive an award of no-fault medical expenses and wage losses. The insurer claimed that the no-fault claim was barred by collateral estoppel or res judicata from the denial of the insured's second workers' compensation claim. The appellate court affirmed the denial to vacate the award and held that the denial of the workers' compensation claim was not binding in the no-fault arbitration as the two statutes were two different sets of laws with different purposes and ...