By Judge Audrey Headrick, Chattanooga How many times during a settlement approval have you heard the judge ask employees to confirm that they don’t have an outstanding child support lien? Probably often, right? Everyone chuckles when I ask employees in their fifties or older. However, I once had an employee in his seventies with a … Continue reading Child Support Liens and Workers’ Compensation
Author: tncourtofwcclaims
Labor Day, and Organized Labor Under Tennessee Workers’ Comp Law
By Judge Josh Baker, Nashville Each year on the first Monday of September, Americans gather in various ways to celebrate Labor Day with cookouts, barbecues and parades in some larger cities. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the first celebration of the holiday occurred on September 5, 1882, in New York City, where they … Continue reading Labor Day, and Organized Labor Under Tennessee Workers’ Comp Law
Cost Projections: A Real Truth from 40 Years Ago
By Chief Judge Kenneth M. Switzer Remember the phrase, “I’m not a doctor, but I play one on TV”? Google explains that it “originated from a 1984 Vicks Formula 44 cough syrup commercial” and “humorously highlights the distinction between real expertise and the appearance of expertise on television.” Real expertise. Lawyers and judges are experts … Continue reading Cost Projections: A Real Truth from 40 Years Ago
Work Comp Alphabet Soup
By Chief Judge Kenneth M. Switzer, Nashville Jane Salem, staff attorney extraordinaire, and final grammatical, citation, and stylistic editor of 90% of the trial orders you read, rails against the inside lingo of our comp world. The problem is we all have our own language. I just used “lingo.” Chances are some of you reading … Continue reading Work Comp Alphabet Soup
Back to School! (Or, “How I spent My Summer Vacation”)
By Alyssa Williams, Court intern/2L, Winston College of Law, University of Tennessee-Knoxville When I began my summer internship with the Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, I didn’t know what to expect. As a 1L, you don’t learn a lot about this specialized area of law, and it was certainly a learning curve. But, as with … Continue reading Back to School! (Or, “How I spent My Summer Vacation”)
TNComp is Back
Thanks for your patience while it was shut down for maintenance. You may now login, view filings, and upload your documents.
Fee Schedule Applies to Unauthorized Treatment
By Jane Salem, staff attorney, Nashville The medical fee schedule applies to all medical treatment in workers’ compensation claims, whether it’s authorized or unauthorized. The Appeals Board reached this conclusion on Friday in Hands v. Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc. The case presented many issues at trial. Hands alleged knee and back injuries from work, … Continue reading Fee Schedule Applies to Unauthorized Treatment
Important! TNComp will be unavailable
By Penny Shrum, Court Clerk, Nashville No one likes a road full of pot holes. No one likes traffic delays or detours due to road repairs. But everyone is happy when the job is completed and the drive is smoother. Just like the roads occasionally needs maintenance, so does TNComp. The State of Tennessee is … Continue reading Important! TNComp will be unavailable
Appeals Board Issues Order on Artificial Intelligence
By Elizabeth Vines, Appeals Board staff attorney, Cookeville On August 3, 2026, the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board issued a standing order requiring litigants before the Board to clearly state on any filing whether an artificial intelligence (“AI”) tool or program was used to create that filing. Because of the rise in the accessibility of AI … Continue reading Appeals Board Issues Order on Artificial Intelligence
Board Weighs Fee Schedule for Unauthorized Treatment
By Alyssa Williams, Court Intern/2L, Winston College of Law, University of Tennessee-Knoxville One of my favorite parts of law school has been watching both mock trials and oral arguments. After spending so much time studying their components and practicing one for an assignment, it was fascinating to sit in the digital audience and watch experienced … Continue reading Board Weighs Fee Schedule for Unauthorized Treatment
Board Offers an Approach to Temporary Disability
By Sarah Byrne, staff attorney, Nashville Obtaining temporary disability benefits after maximum recovery is rarely ever “par for the course.” In Patrick v. Topgolf, the Appeals Board recently reinforced the general rule that temporary disability ends at maximum recovery or an employee’s ability to return to work. Any exception requires a doctor’s opinion—even with … Continue reading Board Offers an Approach to Temporary Disability
Appeals Board To Hear Jurisdiction Arguments
Taking us all back to the early days of our civil procedure class in law school, the Appeals Board will hear arguments about personal jurisdiction and the sufficiency of a party’s contacts with the State of Tennessee. In Hernandez v. CJR Framing, Inc., the trial court held those contacts sufficed for it to exercise jurisdiction … Continue reading Appeals Board To Hear Jurisdiction Arguments
Judge Frech Sworn In
We are proud to welcome Judge Peter Frech to the Bureau. Judge Frech was sworn in on July 8th at the Nashville office as the newest judge on the Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims. He brings diverse experience and dedication to the bench. Judge Frech served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a military police … Continue reading Judge Frech Sworn In
No Settlements Statewide on July 3
Offices are closed in honor of the July 4th holiday.
Misrepresentation Defense Inapplicable to Undocumented Workers
By Jane Salem, staff attorney, Nashville An injured worker who gets a job using a false identity is still entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, because a valid contract for hire existed. The plain language of the statute defining “employee” compels this conclusion, according to the Appeals Board in an opinion released earlier this week, Torres … Continue reading Misrepresentation Defense Inapplicable to Undocumented Workers
A 2L’s Takeaways from the Workers’ Comp Conference
By Alyssa Williams, University of Tennessee Winston College of Law, Court intern A common saying about learning the law is that it’s like “drinking out of a fire hose.” That perfectly described my early experience interning for the Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims. However, after spending a few weeks here and attending the Education Conference … Continue reading A 2L’s Takeaways from the Workers’ Comp Conference
Enjoy your summer books and shoes
By Judge Dale Tipps, Murfreesboro Today is the summer solstice. What are the popular "beach reads" this year? While I'm always interested in what's new and trending on the bookstore shelves, several years back, I made a habit of reading “Dandelion Wine” by Ray Bradbury at the beginning of every summer. Bradbury somehow managed to … Continue reading Enjoy your summer books and shoes
Happy Juneteenth!
Tomorrow is a holiday, and state offices are closed. This of course means no settlement approvals will take place.
Let Grandma Be Your Guide
By Traci Haynes, staff attorney, Gray It’s hard to believe Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer, is well behind us now. Growing up, I loved spending time with my grandmother, Millie. She had opinions. She would always frown on saying “Happy Memorial Day,” as it was a day of mourning. Another tradition she instilled … Continue reading Let Grandma Be Your Guide
July virtual oral arguments announced
Pop the corn, get a beverage, and log in on July 14 to watch the Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board hear oral arguments in two cases. In Hands v. Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc., the employee contends that the trial court erred by ordering the employer to pay unauthorized medical bills under the fee schedule … Continue reading July virtual oral arguments announced
From the Bench 