§392-46 Subrogation rights against third parties. If any individual who has received benefits under this chapter is entitled to recover damages from a third person who is responsible for the sickness or accident causing the disability, the employer, the association of employers, the insurer, or the trust fund for disability benefits, providing disability benefits shall be subrogated to, and have a lien upon, the rights of the individual against the third party to the extent that the damages include wage loss during the period of disability for which temporary disability benefits were received in the amount of such benefits.
If the individual commences an action against such third party, the individual shall notify the individual's employer, or the director if the individual is unemployed, of the action and the court in which it is pending. The employer, the association of employers, the insurer, or the trust fund for disability benefits, providing disability benefits may join as party plaintiff or claim a lien on the amount of any judgment recovered by the individual in such action to the extent of its subrogation rights. If the individual does not commence the action within nine months after the commencement of the sickness or the date of the accident causing the disability, the employer, the association of employers, the insurer, or the trust fund for disability benefits, providing temporary disability benefits may commence such action, but the individual shall be entitled to join the action and be entitled to any surplus over the amount to which the employers, the association of employers, the insurer, or the trust fund for disability benefits is subrogated. [L 1969, c 148, pt of §1; gen ch 1985; am L 2013, c 100, §8]
Case Notes
Temporary disability insurance carrier is not entitled to full reimbursement of benefits from its insured's employee under section's subrogation and lien rights when employee receives a "general damages only" settlement from tortfeasor. 73 H. 403, 833 P.2d 890 (1992).
Structure Hawaii Revised Statutes
Title 21. Labor and Industrial Relations
392. Temporary Disability Insurance
392-6 Individual in current employment.
392-21 Establishment of temporary disability benefits.
392-21.5 Proceedings to determine employment and coverage.
392-23 Duration of benefit payments.
392-25 Eligibility for benefits.
392-26 Care by physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or equivalent required.
392-27 Ineligibility in certain cases.
392-28 Duplication of benefits not permitted.
392-29 No assignment of benefits; exemptions from attachment, etc.
392-41 Provision for payment of benefits.
392-42.5 Insurer's requirements; failure to maintain a claims service office; penalty; injunction.
392-43 Authority to withhold contributions, rate of contribution, maximum weekly wage base.
392-43.5 Payments of premium for ineligible employees not permitted.
392-44 Payment of disability benefits.
392-46 Subrogation rights against third parties.
392-47 Failure to give security for payment of benefits; penalty; injunction.
392-48 The insurance contract.
392-49 Insolvency of employer not to release insurer.
392-50 Cancellation of insurance contracts.
392-51 Failure to submit timely wage and employment information.
392-52 Disposition of accrued benefits where insurer is unable to locate employee.
392-61 Establishment of trust fund for disability benefits.
392-62 Management of the fund.
392-63 Disbursements from the fund.
392-66 Disability while unemployed.
392-67 Assessments for the trust fund for disability benefits.
392-68 Failure to pay assessments.
392-69 Request for wage and employment information
392-72 Appeals, filing, and hearing.
392-74 Conclusiveness of determinations and decisions.
392-78 Recovery of benefits paid; individual's liability to repay benefits; insurer's appeal rights.
392-80 Appeal pending when reconsideration issued.
392-81 Notice of reconsideration.
392-86 Disputes between employers and employees relating to withholding of wages.