Maine Revised Statutes
Subchapter 1: BOARD PROCEEDINGS
39-A §311. Inadmissible statements

§311. Inadmissible statements
No statement of any kind made by the injured employee to any investigator, employer or employer's representative, whether oral or written, recorded or unrecorded, may be admitted into evidence or considered in any way in any proceeding under this Act if it was obtained by means of duress on the part of the investigator, employer or employer's representative. [PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §8 (NEW); PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §§9-11 (AFF).]
1. Duress defined. For the purpose of this section, "duress" is not limited to its common law definition, but includes:
A. Implied or expressed threats relating to the employment of the employee or the employment of a relative of the employee; [PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §8 (NEW); PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §§9-11 (AFF).]
B. Implied or expressed threats of extensive litigation and appeals of the employee's claim; [PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §8 (NEW); PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §§9-11 (AFF).]
C. Misleading, false or incomplete statements of law or any misleading, false or incomplete legal opinion given to the employee relating to the employee's eligibility for benefits under this Act; [PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §8 (NEW); PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §§9-11 (AFF).]
D. Misleading, false or incomplete statements of fact knowingly made to the employee; [PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §8 (NEW); PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §§9-11 (AFF).]
E. The taking of unfair advantage of an employee's physical, mental or economic problems or shortcomings; and [PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §8 (NEW); PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §§9-11 (AFF).]
F. Interrogations or investigations conducted under such circumstances as to be severely intimidating to the employee. [PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §8 (NEW); PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §§9-11 (AFF).]
[PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §8 (NEW); PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §§9-11 (AFF).]
2. Exception. This section does not apply to agreements for the payment of compensation made under this Act or to the admissibility of statements to show compliance with the notice requirements of sections 301 and 302.
[PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §8 (NEW); PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §§9-11 (AFF).]
3. Application. This section applies only to employees injured on or after June 30, 1985.
[PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §8 (NEW); PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §§9-11 (AFF).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1991, c. 885, §A8 (NEW). PL 1991, c. 885, §§A9-11 (AFF).