State News : New Jersey

NWCDN is a network of law firms dedicated to protecting employers in workers’ compensation claims.


NWCDN Members regularly post articles and summary judgements in workers’ compensations law in your state.  


Select a state from the dropdown menu below to scroll through the state specific archives for updates and opinions on various workers’ compensation laws in your state.


Contact information for NWCDN members is also located on the state specific links in the event you have additional questions or your company is seeking a workers’ compensation lawyer in your state.


New Jersey

CAPEHART SCATCHARD

  856-235-2786

The New Jersey Workers’ Compensation court calendars were suspended March 17, 2020 through April 3, 2020.   On Monday, March 30, 2020, the Director of the Division of Workers’ Compensation, Hon. Russell Wojtenko, Jr. advised in a Notice to the Bar that a limited reopening will occur on Monday, April 6, 2020 to permit telephonic case conferences and settlements.

There are 15 vicinages in New Jersey for workers’ compensation hearings. One supervising judge from each district will be available to discuss certain cases telephonically.  The emphasis will be on emergent matters as well as settlements by affidavit, motions for medical and temporary disability benefits and certain pretrial conferences. 

In the March 30 Notice, the Director made clear that there will be no in-person workers’ compensation proceedings (except for extremely limited emergent matters and certain ongoing motions for medical and temporary benefits and trials in which social distancing will be enforced).

The Director’s Notice to the Bar emphasizes that the goal of the Division is to limit the exposure and spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus to court personnel, attorneys and their staff, as well as litigants, witnesses and members of the public.  The Notice observes that New Jersey workers’ compensation courts will continue to be closed to the public and to non-essential court personnel until April 13, 2020.

Employers, third party administrators, carriers and all practitioners should understand that time demands on the supervisory judge in each venue will be significant in attempting to cover multiple court lists each day.  Still this Notice is very positive news in that emergent matters and settlements by affidavit can now move forward.

 

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John H. Geaney, Esq., is an Executive Committee Member and a Shareholder in Capehart Scatchard's Workers’ Compensation Group.  Mr. Geaney concentrates his practice in the representation of employers, self-insured companies, third-party administrators, and insurance carriers in workers’ compensation, the Americans with Disabilities Act and Family and Medical Leave Act. Should you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Mr. Geaney at 856.914.2063 or by e‑mail at jgeaney@capehart.com.