By Jane Salem, Staff Attorney, Nashville Welcome back to the recap of the Appeals Board’s activities for the second half of 2017. Don’t forget that waiver you mentally signed last week. The Reform Act ushered in greater formality and (we hope) fairness into Tennessee workers’ compensation practice via the imposition of, or greater adherence to, … Continue reading Looking Back, Part Two
Author: tncourtofwcclaims
Looking Back at the 2017 Appeals Board Opinions, Part One
By Jane Salem, Staff Attorney, Nashville I recently promised an article about the Appeals Board’s activities from the second half of 2017. Here it is, in two parts. But first, please read and mentally sign the waiver below. Thanks. Now, before I delve into the cases, 2017 was memorable for the Appeals Board for reasons … Continue reading Looking Back at the 2017 Appeals Board Opinions, Part One
Appeals Board Hears Arguments on Attorneys’ Fees Statutory Provisions
By Jane Salem, Staff Attorney, Nashville The Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board took up a topic of interest to most practitioners – fees – in a pair of cases at its most recent docket of oral arguments. The judges dived deeply into two separate provisions of the Workers’ Compensation Law authorizing fees to employees’ attorneys … Continue reading Appeals Board Hears Arguments on Attorneys’ Fees Statutory Provisions
An Overview of 2017 Panel Opinions
By Jane Salem, Staff Attorney, Nashville January is traditionally a time to look back at the past year. In Tennessee workers’ compensation jurisprudence, 2017 marked the first time that Supreme Court Special Workers’ Compensation Panels reviewed opinions from the Appeals Board or the Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims. All told, the Panels released five cases reviewing … Continue reading An Overview of 2017 Panel Opinions
No settlement approvals on January 5, 2018
Happy New Year! All of the judges and staff attorneys are meeting on January 5, and therefore none of the offices statewide will host settlement approvals on that date.
The next Maury County Day is…
The next day for settlement approvals in Maury County is January 30. If you have a claimant from the southern counties who prefers going to Columbia rather than the Murfreesboro office, contact Patsy Bumbalough or call 615-848-6743.
If Rudolph Filed a Claim…
By Judge Robert V. Durham, Cookeville Please see the attached Order, and Merry Christmas to all you workers' comp nerds of a certain generation...
Your Gift to the Court
By Chief Judge Kenneth M. Switzer, Nashville We are on your "nice" list, right? We suggest that you consider these gift-like actions of counsel in these recent, distinct cases: The parties submitted a joint motion along with a draft order for the Court’s signature. They took it one step further, including a Word version of … Continue reading Your Gift to the Court
Maury County Day Becomes a Regular Occurrence
By Judge Dale Tipps, Murfreesboro It’s a long way from Iron City to Murfreesboro. While I was a music major, that's not a country and western song. It's simply an accurate observation about travel within the large geographic region where I sit as a workers' compensation judge. We wanted to give claimants an opportunity to … Continue reading Maury County Day Becomes a Regular Occurrence
Trial Settlement Day Set in Maury County
The Court of Workers' Compensation Claims is continually looking for ways to better serve our clientele. To that end, parties and counsel in the mid-state may seek approval of their settlements in the Maury County Courthouse, rather than the Murfreesboro office, on Wednesday, November 29, starting at 9:00 a.m. If you wish to do so, … Continue reading Trial Settlement Day Set in Maury County
In Re: Louisiana’s Disappearing Lake
By Judge Brian Addington, Kingsport I like to fish. It was one of the first outdoorsy things that my dad and granddad taught me. I typically use natural bait or spinners and love to fish for trout, bluegill and bass. My love for fishing, though, pales in comparison to that of Eric Fenstemaker, Program Coordinator … Continue reading In Re: Louisiana’s Disappearing Lake
Guide Us in the Right Direction
By Chief Judge Kenneth M. Switzer, Nashville In June 2016 at the Bureau’s annual Educational Conference, we discussed the rule changes that were making their way through the administrative jungle toward final approval. That process takes about one year from the time of proposal until being finalized and approved. That set of rules took effect … Continue reading Guide Us in the Right Direction
Talking Turkey
By Judge Dale Tipps, Murfreesboro Although my local grocery store was playing Christmas music the day after Halloween, we shouldn’t forget about Thanksgiving. More to the point, we should all be careful to adequately prepare for the hazards of Thanksgiving. I’m not talking about the usual issues of overeating or the general stress of being … Continue reading Talking Turkey
What is the Court Looking for from Physicians?
By Judge Amber Luttrell Lawyers and doctors. We’re a bit of an odd couple, considering the very different training, education and ways of thinking we generally possess. Yet, in the workers’ compensation system, we bring these differences together to (hopefully) ensure that injured workers get the care they need and that employees and employers alike … Continue reading What is the Court Looking for from Physicians?
The Bureau is Closed November 10
Thanks for your service to all veterans.
Saying What You Mean and Meaning What You Say
By Judge Brian Addington, Kingsport I’m from the country and can slice the English language better than a butcher. I’m really bad when I read aloud. At home, I often try to read something to my wife, only to be stared at and told, “I didn’t understand a single thing you read.” At work, in … Continue reading Saying What You Mean and Meaning What You Say
Help Wanted
The Appeals Board is looking for a staff attorney who excels in research and writing, among other strengths. Read more about the position here (scroll to "staff attorney").
Court Tweaks Procedure for Setting Post-discovery ADR
By Chief Judge Kenneth M. Switzer, Nashville Great news: There’s one less document to file when preparing for trial in the Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims. As of Oct. 1, you no longer need to file an amended Petition for Benefit Determination (PBD) to get the ball rolling on post-discovery mediation. For a little background, … Continue reading Court Tweaks Procedure for Setting Post-discovery ADR
Details, Details
By Chief Judge Kenneth M. Switzer, Nashville In the musical “1776,” after a long, arduous battle over the concept of the Declaration of Independence and the details of its wording, the document is finally ready for a vote. At this point John Adams, who has pushed for the Declaration the whole time, raises an objection to … Continue reading Details, Details
Tennessee Comp Reforms Receive High Marks
We're proud that people are noticing the Bureau's hard work generally and the Court's in particular. We promise to continue to provide a fair, efficient and professional court system to employees and employers that will promote economic prosperity for all Tennesseans.
From the Bench 