A finding that injuries resulted from an employee's serious and willful misconduct leads to what consequence regarding their indemnity benefits?

• A. A 50% reduction in the applicant's indemnity benefits
• B. The compensation otherwise payable shall be reduced by one-half
• C. A 10% reduction if the injury causes disability greater than 70%
• D. No reduction if the employee is under 18 years of age at the time of injury

Answer: (B)

The correct choice reflects the legal principle that when an injury is found to have resulted from an employee's serious and willful misconduct, there is typically a significant impact on their indemnity benefits. Specifically, the law states that the compensation payable to the injured employee in such cases is reduced by one-half. This is designed to discourage unsafe behavior and ensure that employees adhere to safety standards in the workplace.

The rationale behind this reduction is that serious and willful misconduct indicates a level of intentionality or recklessness on the part of the employee that contributed to their injuries. Therefore, allowing full indemnity benefits would not align with the principles of holding individuals accountable for their actions while also fostering a safe working environment.

In contrast, the other options present variations of reductions or exceptions that do not align with the legal framework for serious and willful misconduct. For instance, the mention of a 50% reduction, while seemingly similar, omits this specific legal context and the clear directive set by workers' compensation laws. Other percentages or age considerations don't apply in cases defined by intentional misconduct, where the established consequence is uniform across the board.