Judge Denies Lump-Sum Conversion of Worker's PTD Benefits

The Montana Workers’ Compensation Court ruled that a worker was not entitled to a lump-sum conversion of her permanent total disability benefits. Case: Ruff v. Benefis Health System Inc., No. 2020-5051, 04/27/2022, published. Facts: Lisa Ruff has a congenital, left-upper-extremity amelia, so her left arm ends just below her elbow. Ruff does not use a prosthetic device and, from an early age, learned to do most things with her right arm and hand. Starting in 2003, and on and off until late 2017, Ruff took classes at Great Falls College, which she funded through student loans. Although...