Appeal of Javier Vasquez and Appeal of Matosantos International Corporation

Summary

The Supreme Court held that RSA 281-A:43 gives the Department of Labor jurisdiction to resolve workers’ compensation coverage disputes, including interpreting insurance policies, and that the Compensation Appeals Board may review such determinations. Accordingly, the Court vacated the Board’s decision and remanded for further proceedings on the coverage issue. The decision rests on a plain‑meaning construction of the statute and the definition of “employer.”