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
Author: tncourtofwcclaims
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…
What’s the Difference?
By Judge Brian Addington, Gray I recently took my son and members of his cross-country team on a running and history trip. The boys ran two 5K races, one in Virginia and the other in Pennsylvania. They had a good time running, and we enjoyed some relaxing days at the pool. We also toured a … Continue reading What’s the Difference?
Rocking Out to the CWCC’s Greatest Hits
By Jane Salem, staff attorney, Nashville I’m dating myself here, but as a kid and teenager, I loved listening to LPs and the radio. I have older siblings who taught me what’s “good” music. Some of my early favorites were greatest hits collections by James Taylor, Simon & Garfunkel, Linda Ronstadt and Sly and the … Continue reading Rocking Out to the CWCC’s Greatest Hits
The Balancing Act
By Judge Audrey Headrick, Chattanooga I don’t know about you, but I struggle daily with balancing work and family life. When I feel like I’m being an awesome mom, I feel guilty that I’m not working hard enough at my job, and vice versa. On those rare occasions when I feel like I am doing … Continue reading The Balancing Act
New and improved rules take effect today
By Judge Pamela B. Johnson, Knoxville For any chance of success, parties to a workers’ compensation claim in Tennessee must familiarize themselves with the statute as well as the many applicable rules and regulations. Some have said the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation and the Court have too many rules. We agreed. So, we worked to … Continue reading New and improved rules take effect today
Appeals Board sets cases for oral argument
On October 1, the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board will return to the Tennessee Supreme Court in Nashville to hear arguments in the following cases: Tennyson Order Compelling Deposition; Ailshie v. TN Farm Bureau Federation; Clay v. Signature Healthcare; and, Caldwell Order Compelling IME. Arguments begin at 9:00 a.m. Click here for more information.
New faces at the Appeals Board
The Tennessee Workers' Compensation Appeals Board is pleased to announce the hiring of two new staff members. Olivia Yearwood will be the Board’s new clerk of court. Yearwood previously worked in the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation as a Compliance Specialist, and before that she was a Special Agent for the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Yearwood … Continue reading New faces at the Appeals Board
Of love and other poisons
By Judge Brian Addington, Kingsport It was 1751, and Francis Blandy was suspicious. As a loving father, Blandy suspected that Captain William Henry Cranstoun, his daughter's fiance, was already married. When Cranstoun left England to return to Scotland to have his previous marriage annulled, Blandy felt better about the situation. But as the months passed, … Continue reading Of love and other poisons
TNComp Needs a Vacation
By Penny Shrum, Clerk of Court, Nashville Perhaps you’ve seen the note below the last time you tried to upload a document. It’s been one year since the Court’s electronic filing system went live. All programs need a little maintenance now and then to keep up with technology. So, soon we'll be giving TNComp a … Continue reading TNComp Needs a Vacation
Honoring 100 Years of Workers’ Compensation in Tennessee
On June 12, the Tennessee Bureau of Workers' Compensation hosted a formal event to commemorate the law's 100 years and to honor an individual who has had a significant impact on the law. Theresa Montgomery, the chief state photographer in Nashville, captured the highlights below. To see all of her wonderful photos of this event, … Continue reading Honoring 100 Years of Workers’ Compensation in Tennessee
Guest Blogger: An Intro to Occupational Diseases
As the title explains, below is a guest submission. It is meant to inform and offer her interpretation of the law. By Allison Lowry At this year’s Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Educational Conference, the Bureau celebrated the 100-year anniversary of the enactment of workers’ compensation laws in Tennessee. Among the numerous topics featured at the … Continue reading Guest Blogger: An Intro to Occupational Diseases
Put Me in, Coach–I’m ready to play (Oh, Wait, I Can’t)
By Judge Brian Addington, Gray Well, we’re in summer now, and what time is it? Baseball time. By the way, I’m a Braves fan; isn’t everybody? There’s just something about baseball as the perfect way to get folks together on a hot summer evening. Speaking of baseball, playing it in college remains one of my … Continue reading Put Me in, Coach–I’m ready to play (Oh, Wait, I Can’t)
See You In Murfreesboro
Tomorrow kicks off the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation’s 22nd Annual Educational Conference at the Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro. This year’s event will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Law. For our part, the Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims will once again offer two sessions on legal ethics. First, back by popular demand, … Continue reading See You In Murfreesboro
More on the SD-2
By Judge Pamela B. Johnson, Knoxville Recap: In my last blog post discussing the Statistical Data Form, I focused on the importance of the form and explained that the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation uses the data collected to complete its Annual Report to the Legislature. The data is also supplied to national organizations that measure the … Continue reading More on the SD-2
Summer’s here!
There will be no settlement approvals statewide on the following dates: June 12-14: The Bureau's Educational Conference; July 4: Independence Day; July 18-19: Judicial Meeting; and, September 2: Labor Day. The Nashville office only will conduct settlement approvals on June 12. Be safe, and enjoy the warm weather.
Oral arguments revisit willful misconduct under Mitchell
By Sarah Byrne, staff attorney, Nashville The Tennessee Supreme Court Special Workers’ Compensation Panel, Middle Section, heard arguments on March 25 in Corey Bunton v. Sanderson Pipe Corp., a willful misconduct case appealed from the Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims. From the employee-appellant’s perspective, the Bunton facts illustrate what the Mitchell dissent predicted: the four-factor … Continue reading Oral arguments revisit willful misconduct under Mitchell
From the Bench 