The Tennessee Bureau of Workers' Compensation welcomed its newest jurist on Friday, January 17. Pele I. Godkin is now a judge on the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board, sitting in Nashville. Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle administered the oath at the Old Supreme Court Chamber in the Tennessee State Capitol. Photos by Kyle Jones, Bureau … Continue reading It’s official! Welcome, Judge Godkin
Author: tncourtofwcclaims
Bureau to host Medical Education Conference
The Tennessee Bureau of Workers' Compensation will host its annual Physician Education Conference on Saturday, February 29, 2020. This one-day conference will be held at the Bureau of Workers' Compensation main office in Nashville. 220 French Landing Drive. Among the topics are: Risks of Long Term Opioids Marijuana Update for Tennessee Alternatives to Opioids in … Continue reading Bureau to host Medical Education Conference
Governor Lee Appoints new Appeals Board Judge
Abbie Hudgens, administrator of the Tennessee Bureau of Workers' Compensation, announced today that Gov. Bill Lee has appointed a new Workers' Compensation Appeals Board Judge, Pele Godkin. Ms. Godkin is a former workers’ compensation specialist in what was then called the Division of Workers’ Compensation in both the Nashville and Murfreesboro offices. In 2008 she … Continue reading Governor Lee Appoints new Appeals Board Judge
There will be no settlement approvals on…
For Holidays: December 24, 25 and 31, 2019; and January 1 and 20, 2020. For a Judges' meeting: January 9 (Except in Nashville) and January 10 statewide.
Good Bye and Good Luck, Judge Davidson
By Jane Salem, staff attorney, Court of Workers' Compensation Claims, Nashville When Judge Marshall L. Davidson, III, reported for his first day as presiding judge of the Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, he entered the building and asked the guards how to find the appellate court clerk’s office. They looked puzzled and told him there … Continue reading Good Bye and Good Luck, Judge Davidson
If you build it…
The film "Field of Dreams" launched the phrase, "If you build it, they will come." We hope our dream is realized with new settlement approval locations, set to begin in 2020. In a previous post, we announced new locations in Clarksville and Dresden. We asked that anyone who is interested in taking advantage of these … Continue reading If you build it…
To Everything, There is a Season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
By Judge Lisa Lowe. Knoxville Yes, just like the Byrds told us, to everything there is a season. (By the way, they stole that from King Solomon; apparently his copyright had expired.) You might ask, dear readers, “Which season is it now? Is it winter or the holiday season?” No, friends…it’s the season to check … Continue reading To Everything, There is a Season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
Getting in — and out — of the game
By Judge Deana Seymour, Memphis Have you noticed the recent popularity of escape rooms? You know – those games where a team, confined to a room, studies the clues and tries to escape? If the team follows the clues, the escape occurs without a hitch. But sometimes a missed clue along the way prevents release. … Continue reading Getting in — and out — of the game
Some Friendly Reminders
By Judge Dale Tipps, Murfreesboro I usually get nervous when I receive an email titled “friendly reminder,” because it’s often a euphemism for “final warning.” This post isn’t intended as a warning, final or otherwise. However, I’ve noticed some settlement approval concerns over the past few months. Below are some ways to avoid future “friendly … Continue reading Some Friendly Reminders
Coming soon to a courtroom near you
By Chief Judge Kenneth M. Switzer, Nashville Since the creation of the Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims in 2014, we have held all our settlement approvals and trials in our eight locations around the state. For more information about these locations and their individual procedures, click here. We soon realized that some of these locations are long … Continue reading Coming soon to a courtroom near you
Appeals Board issues opinion on competing experts
On Monday, the Appeals Board released its opinion in Sharee Clay v. Signature Healthcare. The Board heard argument in the case on Oct. 1. It affirmed Judge Joshua Davis Baker's compensation hearing order. The case asked the Board to consider the trial court's decision to exclude Signature Healthcare's expert testimony as hearsay, finding that counsel … Continue reading Appeals Board issues opinion on competing experts
Appeals Board affirms opinion on admissibility of ‘self-taught’ expert’s testimony, clarifies discovery rights
Today the Appeals Board affirmed a trial court decision denying a motion in limine that sought to exclude an expert's deposition testimony because the physician had no training in use of the AMA Guides and stated at one point that she could not recall how she arrived at her rating. In Ailshie v. TN Farm … Continue reading Appeals Board affirms opinion on admissibility of ‘self-taught’ expert’s testimony, clarifies discovery rights
Next Step Program Specialist Announced
The Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation has appointed its inaugural position for the new Next Step Program. Marion Southall White was hired as the first Vocational Recovery Specialist for the Next Step Program. Marion comes from a career development background with the Institute for Career Development for the United Steelworkers. She brings years of manufacturing … Continue reading Next Step Program Specialist Announced
Appeals Board: No to employee doctor’s videoconference ‘presence’ at an IME
Today the Tennessee Workers' Compensation Appeals Board reversed a trial court order allowing an employee to have his own physician "present" by electronic means at an independent medical examination. Read the opinion here.
Appeals Board Considers Electronic “Presence” at Independent Medical Examinations
By Jane Salem, Staff Attorney, Nashville A pair of injured employees wants to have their physician “present” at an independent medical examination via videoconference or live-streaming. In one case, the judge allowed ordered that videoconferencing be arranged; in another case, a different judge declined to order it. Who got it right? The Tennessee Workers Compensation … Continue reading Appeals Board Considers Electronic “Presence” at Independent Medical Examinations
Bureau Revises Petition for Benefit Determination
By Chief Judge Kenneth M. Switzer, Nashville In the recent Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board decision Vickers v. Amazon.com, the Board observed that it is "unclear" why the email address to file a petition for benefit determination is that of the ombudsman program rather than the clerk of court, the customary recipient of a pleading. In … Continue reading Bureau Revises Petition for Benefit Determination
Return to Sender–Address Unknown
By Judge Robert Durham, Cookeville As a judge, I appreciate the opportunity this blog affords me. It gives me a chance to vent to the world at large (or at least, the tiny part that cares about Tennessee workers’ compensation) about some of my pet peeves. Today’s pet peeve: email addresses. As you might know, … Continue reading Return to Sender–Address Unknown
Rest in Peace, Scheduled Members
By Judge Brian Addington, Gray I went out for lunch the other day and heard an '80s song that I had not heard in years, Head to Toe, by Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam. That song really got in my head, and I came back to the office thinking about it. Eventually, it led me … Continue reading Rest in Peace, Scheduled Members
We’re All Ears
By Judge Amber Luttrell, Jackson Through this blog, the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation and the Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims seek to share insights, tips and developments on all things relevant to Tennessee workers’ compensation law. Sometimes we also seek to entertain you with engaging true stories of poison, mules, onions, man’s best friend, and … Continue reading We’re All Ears
Your Honor, The Evidence Will Show…
By Jane Salem, staff attorney, Nashville As every trial attorney knows, getting evidence in front of the judge, or keeping it out, can make the difference between winning and losing. With passage of the Reform Act came adherence to the Tennessee Rules of Evidence in the Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims. This was a significant … Continue reading Your Honor, The Evidence Will Show…
From the Bench 