Aubrey White v. Bunge North America, Inc.

STATE OF LOUISIANA

COURT OF APPEAL, FIRST CIRCUIT

AUBREY WHITE NO. 2020 CW 0052

VERSUS

BUNGS NORTH AMERICA, INC.
MAR 0 3 2020

In Re: Bunge North America, Inc., applying for supervisory
writs, Office of Workers' Compensation, District 06,
Nos. 18- 04983 c/ w 19- 06060.

BEFORE: WHIPPLE, C. J., GUIDRY AMD BURRIS,' JJ.

WRIT GRANTED. Louisiana Revised Statutes 23: 1209A( 2)
provides that temporary total disability payments prescribe " one

year from the time of making the last payment." While we

recognize that any payment, whether in the form of temporary
total disability payments, permanent total disability payments,
supplemental earnings benefit payments, or permanent partial

disability payments, shall stop the commencement of the running
of prescription, no payments of any kind were made by the
employer, Bunge North America, Inc., to claimant between January
16, 2017 and February 5, 2018, or for a period of more than one
year. As such, because no payments were made for more than a

period of one year, any claim for total temporary disability
payments prescribed. See Bibbins v. Soh Brothers Construction

Company, 99- 349 ( La. App. 5th Cir. 10/ 13/ 99), 746 So. 2d 154,

158. Moreover, the payment of supplemental earnings benefits
after the prescriptive period for temporary total disability
benefits has run could not serve to interrupt the prescriptive

period for temporary total disability benefits. Cf. Melancon v.

Meadow Brook Rehab, 2003- 1255 ( La. App. 3d Cir. 4/ 7/ 04), 869
So. 2d 989, 993. Accordingly, we grant the writ application,

sustain Bunge North America, Inc.' s exception raising the

objection of prescription, and dismiss Aubrey White' s claim for
temporary total disability benefits with prejudice. In view of

the purpose of the Workers' Compensation Act, this is a matter

that the legislature should address.

VGW
JMG
WJB

COURT OF APPEAL, FIRST CIRCUIT

DEPUTY CLERK OF COURT
FOR THE COURT

IJudge William J. Burris, retired, serving pro tempore by special appointment
of the Louisiana Supreme Court.