By Jane Salem, Assistant to Chief Judge Kenneth M. SwitzerHappy birthday to us!A little over one year ago, the Tennessee Court of Workers' Compensation Claims and the Appeals Board were borne. Our Courts were created in the historic 2013 reform legislation, which brought Tennessee in line with 48 other jurisdictions in their approach to workers' … Continue reading A Busy First Year for the Appeals Board, Part One
Author: tncourtofwcclaims
Give Peace a Chance
In any contested case pending in our Court, typically there will be two opportunities -- before an interlocutory, expedited hearing and before a final compensation hearing -- to explore settlement options, using the help of the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation’s experienced, highly effective mediators.Allow me to brag on our mediators for a moment. They have … Continue reading Give Peace a Chance
Please be Timely
In the Court of Workers' Compensation Claims, we conduct the vast majority of our non-evidentiary hearings telephonically. We do this principally for the convenience of parties and their lawyers, and because we understand and respect the value of everyone's time.We ask that you do the same. It seems that recently, more and more attorneys call … Continue reading Please be Timely
You’re Cordially Invited
To the right, you'll see the latest "gadget" added to this blog: a Calendar listing all Expedited and Compensation Hearings for every judge. (If you can't see it, try downloading Google Chrome and use that browser to view this blog.) We are a public Court and our doors are open. The goals of posting this calendar are … Continue reading You’re Cordially Invited
New filing fee rule for appeals takes effect July 1
FYI: Starting tomorrow, the standard language in Expedited and Compensation Hearing orders regarding the parties’ appeal rights changes as follows:The appealing party is responsible for payment of a filing fee in the amount of $75.00. Within ten (10) calendar days after the filing of a notice of appeal, payment must be received by check, money … Continue reading New filing fee rule for appeals takes effect July 1
Happy Birthday America!
State offices are closed next Friday, July 3, 2015, to commemorate the July 4 holiday. There will be no settlement approvals in any offices on that day. Business as usual on Monday, July 6, 2015.In addition, on Friday, July 24, 2015, there will be no settlement approvals in any offices statewide due to the judges' judicial … Continue reading Happy Birthday America!
Coming Together for Kids
When you work for a court in the American justice system, it is very rare to be able say, "Everybody wins." Yet that's exactly what happened on June 6, 2015, when we took the competition we usually see in the courtroom to the roads, for a common goal: helping kids.The Tennessee Self-Insurers' Association and the … Continue reading Coming Together for Kids
It’s Official!
On June 11, 2015, Justice William C. Koch Jr. swore in four new judges to the Tennessee Court of Workers' Compensation Claims. Congratulations to them.The new jurists, left to right, are: Judge Robert Durham, Cookeville; Judge Audrey Headrick, Chattanooga; Judge Amber Luttrell, Jackson/Memphis; and Judge Dale Tipps, Murfreesboro/Nashville. Justice William C. Koch Jr., formerly with … Continue reading It’s Official!
New Faces on the Tennessee Workers’ Comp Bench
By Chief Judge Kenneth M. SwitzerI’m happy to announce the newest jurists on the Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims. They are: Robert Durham, Cookeville; Audrey Headrick, Chattanooga; Amber Luttrell, Jackson; and Dale Tipps, Murfreesboro/Nashville.The Administrator of the Division of Workers’ Compensation, Abbie Hudgens, selected the appointees from recommendations of this year’s Workers’ Compensation Interview Committee, … Continue reading New Faces on the Tennessee Workers’ Comp Bench
Why You Gotta Be So Mean?
By Judge Thomas Wyatt In a recent claim, another Workers’ Compensation judge noted that counsel used terms such as “ridiculous,” “asinine,” “fraudulent,” and “untruthful,” in describing their opponent’s positions. This brought to mind that, in one of my first cases, the lawyers exchanged descriptions of “fool” and “idiot” when referring to each other. In my … Continue reading Why You Gotta Be So Mean?
Lawmakers revise the Workers’ Compensation Law
By Judge Joshua D. BakerBefore participating in any court proceeding, litigants must ensure that they have the most recent information concerning the prevailing law. The General Assembly created the Court of Workers' Compensation Claims in 2013 through broad reform legislation that significantly altered Tennessee’s workers’ compensation laws and procedures. As with any broad reform legislation, problems … Continue reading Lawmakers revise the Workers’ Compensation Law
A Few Words about Affidavits
By Judge Pamela B. Johnson The Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Reform Act of 2013 established the Tennessee Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims, … Continue reading A Few Words about Affidavits
Knoxville Unveils Nifty New Courtroom
By Judge Lisa KnottAbout a year ago, the Knoxville Division of Workers’ Compensation moved from 1610 University Avenue in Knoxville to the old Kimberly Clark building located at 520 West Summit Hill Drive in downtown Knoxville. As part of the lease agreement, the landlord provided the State with a “build out” budget. When the Division … Continue reading Knoxville Unveils Nifty New Courtroom
Appeals Board offers its own ‘Three and One Principle’
In college football, the assessment of penalties, in some cases, is governed by an obscure rule known as the "Three and One Principle." The Tennessee Workers' Compensation Appeals Board recently created its own version of this principle by addressing three important issues in a single factual setting. In just one case, the judges resolved the role … Continue reading Appeals Board offers its own ‘Three and One Principle’
A Trip to the Kingsport Office
Kingsport, Tennessee is located in the Northeast end of the State. It is known as the “Model City” because a city planner and landscape architect designed the original layout of the town. Kingsport is the home to Eastman Chemical Company, which employs 15,000 people around the world and was once the largest private employer in … Continue reading A Trip to the Kingsport Office
Welcome to Our Blog!
"If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself." - Henry Ford In 2013, the Tennessee Legislature passed comprehensive Workers’ Compensation reform legislation. The reform created a new, administrative Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims within the Workers’ Compensation Division. Our Court officially opened its doors on July 1, 2014, when the new law … Continue reading Welcome to Our Blog!
From the Bench 