Krumm v. R. A. Nadeau Co.

What Happened:
Employee Krumm was injured at work while employed by R. A. Nadeau Company and became eligible for workers' compensation disability benefits. The dispute centered on whether Krumm should receive cost-of-living adjustments (increases to keep up with inflation) that were made effective as of October 1, 1976, even though his workplace injury occurred after that date. The company argued he shouldn't get these inflation adjustments because his injury happened later.

What the Court Decided:
The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in favor of Krumm. The court determined that he was entitled to receive the cost-of-living adjustments to his disability benefits, and these increases should be applied retroactively (going back to) October 1, 1976, regardless of when his actual injury occurred.

Why This Matters for Workers:
This decision protects injured workers from losing purchasing power due to inflation. Even if a worker is injured after cost-of-living increases take effect, they can still benefit from those adjustments to their disability payments. This ensures that workers' compensation benefits maintain their value over time, providing more financial security for employees who suffer workplace injuries and need long-term disability support.