For the purpose of enforcing the Workers’ Compensation Act [52-1-1 NMSA 1978], there are hereby conferred upon the director the following powers and duties:
A. when any employer subject to the provisions of the Workers’ Compensation Act [52-1-1 NMSA 1978] fails to comply with Section 52-1-4 NMSA 1978 relating to the filing of an undertaking in the nature of insurance or security for the payment of benefits under the Workers’ Compensation Act, the director is empowered to institute in his own name an action in the district court of Santa Fe county or the county where the employer resides or has his principal office or place of business to enjoin the employer from continuing his business operations until he has complied with the provisions of Section 52-1-4 NMSA 1978, and upon a showing of the facts above recited, the court shall grant such injunction. In any such action, the attorney general or district attorney for the judicial district where the action is brought shall represent the director; and
B. for the purpose of ascertaining the correctness of any reported wage expenditure, the number of men employed and other information necessary in the administration of the Workers’ Compensation Act [52-1-1 NMSA 1978], the director may, upon his own initiative or upon request of any interested party, hold hearings and subpoena all books, records and payrolls of any employer subject to the provisions of the Workers’ Compensation Act which show or reflect in any way upon the amount of wage expenditures of such employer or other facts, data or statistics appertaining to the purposes of that act.
HISTORY:
Laws 1937, ch. 92, § 18; 1941 Comp., § 57-931; 1953 59-10-31; Laws 1986, ch. 22, § 24; 1989, ch. 263, § 38.
Notes to Decisions
Injunctions.
Workers’ compensation judge (WCJ) had no authority to issue an injunction directing an insurance company to pay for an injured worker’s back surgery. Director of the New Mexico Workers’ Compensation Administration may seek an injunction in district court when an employer fails to comply with a provision of the Act relating to the filing of a certificate of insurance; the legislature did not intend to grant equitable powers to a WCJ. Leonard v. Payday Prof'l/Bio-Cal Comp., 2008-NMCA-034, 143 N.M. 637, 179 P.3d 1245, 2008 N.M. App. LEXIS 3 (N.M. Ct. App.), cert. denied, 143 N.M. 666, 180 P.3d 673, 2008 N.M. LEXIS 134 (N.M. 2008).
Research References and Practice Aids
Cross references.
Nonresident employers employing workers in state; requirement for insurance; enforcement, 52-1-66 NMSA 1978.