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.
The Appeals Panel recently reversed a Hearing Officer’s determination that the first certification of MMI/IR provided in 2010 did not become final because the Hearing Officer determined in 2013 that Claimant’s injury extended to include additional, unrated conditions. The preamble to Rule 130.12 warns parties not to delay in timely disputing the first certification of MMI/IR pending resolution of an extent of injury dispute, because such resolution may occur after the 90-day period expires. In this decision, the Appeals Panel noted “there is no provision in [the Act or Rules] that provides that the exclusion of a condition in an assignment of IR constitutes an exception to finality.” The Appeals Panel held that subsequent resolution of the extent of injury dispute is not, in and of itself, an exception to finality. The Appeals Panel did not foreclose the possibility that an exception to finality may exist where a Claimant does not receive adequate treatment for the entire injury prior to the first certification of MMI because of the extent of injury dispute.
Appeal No. 132594-s, dated Jan. 3, 2014.