Benavides v. E. N.M. Med. Ctr.

Summary

The New Mexico Supreme Court held that a “wet floor” sign qualifies as a safety device under the Workers’ Compensation Act and that the employer’s failure to post such a sign near a freshly mopped area obligates the employer to increase the worker’s benefits by ten percent. The Court also affirmed that Section 52‑5‑1 of the Act does not violate the separation‑of‑powers doctrine. The decision reverses the Court of Appeals and orders the benefit increase.