NMSC Issues Mandate for Ag-Employers to Provide WC Benefits
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – On Thursday, August 4, 2016, the New Mexico Supreme Court issued its mandate in case No. S-1-SC-35426: Noe Rodriguez v. Brand West Dairy and New Mexico Uninsured Employers Fund, consolidated with Maria Angelica Aguirre v. M.A. & Sons Chili Products and Food Industry Self Insurance Fund of New Mexico. The Court ruled on June 30, 2016, that the exclusion of farm and ranch laborers from the Workers’ Compensation Act is unconstitutional. The Supreme Court denied a request to delay or to stay issue of the mandate in the case. The Supreme Court’s holding will be applied to any work-place injury sustained by farm and ranch laborers on or after August 4, 2016.