Name

Pauline Pleau v. Maine Veterans Homes

Insurance Company

Memic

Date Decided

May 29, 2025

Panel Members

Cara Biddings

Donald Murphy

Mike Stovall

Categories

Durational Limit Res Judicata Durational Limit Res Judicata

Tags

File Size

175 KB

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Summary from the Troubh Heisler Attorneys

Pauline Pleau v. Maine Veteran Homes- Where employee left part time employment to become non-compensated companion to mother, the ALJ did not err in finding a change of economic circumstance sufficient to overcome res judicata effect of prior decree establishing partial incapacity based on prior part time employment. Appellate Division rejects employer’s argument that ALJ erred by finding a change in economic circumstances where the economic change was unrelated to the work injury. The Appellate Division examines the case law on change in circumstances and finds no basis for concluding the change must be related to the work injury. Further, the panel concluded that the change in circumstance evidence may be sufficient to reopen the compensation payment scheme but still be insufficient to meet the burden of persuasion.

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