Governor Bill Lee has appointed Meredith B. Weaver as a judge on the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board for the Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC). Weaver has practiced law for 18 years, primarily in the areas of workers’ compensation and employment law. She is an attorney with the firm Peterson White in Knoxville. Weaver was voted … Continue reading Knoxville Attorney Appointed Workers’ Compensation Judge
Category: Blog Administrator
Judge Baker is Reappointed
Abbie Hudgens, Administrator of the Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, has announced that she recently reappointed Judge Joshua Davis Baker to the Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims. Judge Baker sits in Nashville. This will be his second full term. “Judge Baker has played a pivotal role in the Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims since his … Continue reading Judge Baker is Reappointed
Returning to In-Person Settlements
We’re pleased to announce a return to in-person settlement approvals on April 4, 2022! As practitioners know, each of the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation eight offices has a lengthy history of individual procedures for settlement approvals. So, we’re ironing out the details among the various offices. We’ll share them in a future post once we’re … Continue reading Returning to In-Person Settlements
Governor’s Office Seeks Applicants for Appeals Board Judgeship
Gov. Bill Lee's Office announced yesterday that they are accepting applications to fill the judgeship currently held by the Honorable David Hensley, who will retire at the end of March. Applicants must be licensed Tennessee attorneys in good standing, age 30 or older, and have seven or more years of experience in workers' compensation law. … Continue reading Governor’s Office Seeks Applicants for Appeals Board Judgeship
Judge Hensley Announces Retirement
Judge David F. Hensley has announced his retirement from the Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board as of March 31, 2022. After his graduation from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1979, Judge Hensley began his career in Chattanooga clerking for Judge Herschel P. Franks of the Tennessee Court of Appeals. He then spent … Continue reading Judge Hensley Announces Retirement
Update about oral arguments; and settlements next week
The Appeals Board granted a motion to continue the oral arguments in Braden v. Mohawk Industries. Those arguments will now be held on February 7. Also, here's the docket for the January 25 arguments, if you want to observe. They will begin at 8:30 a.m. Central Time. In addition, no settlement approvals will take place … Continue reading Update about oral arguments; and settlements next week
Let it snow!
We're still proceeding with all scheduled telephone settlement approvals, today and tomorrow, despite the weather and closure of state offices. Photo by Judge Deana Seymour, Memphis.
Board Sets Oral Arguments in January
The Appeals Board will hear oral argument by videoconference in four cases on January 25, 2022. Two of the cases involve compensation orders awarding permanent total disability, while the others are a summary judgment and an expedited hearing order. In Braden v. Tomahawk Industries, Inc., the trial court found an injury compensable applying the direct … Continue reading Board Sets Oral Arguments in January
Holiday hours
We’ll be closed December 23, 24, 31, 2021, and January 3, 2022. But TNComp never takes a break; you may still file documents at any time. Happy holidays.
Pandemic order rescinded
In 2020 and last May, the Chief Judge of the Court of Workers' Compensation Claims issued orders regarding health and safety procedures for in-person hearings. Those orders are now rescinded, given the passage of Title 14, COVID-19, of the Tennessee Code. Please read the latest order.
We’ll see some of you next week
Next week, the Bureau of Workers' Compensation will host the 2021 Educational Conference in Murfreesboro. You may attend in-person November 1-3 or on demand starting November 15 through December 3. This year's theme is "Be the Change." It's not too late to register. Next Tuesday will see the premiere of the Court of Workers' Compensation … Continue reading We’ll see some of you next week
MURFREESBORO COURT TEMPORARILY RELOCATES
The Murfreesboro court (and offices) will be closed for renovations beginning in October. We anticipate the process will take about four months. During this time, all in-person hearings in Judge Tipps’ court will take place at the Rutherford County Courthouse, located at 116 West Lytle Street, Murfreesboro. Parties with cases pending will be notified in … Continue reading MURFREESBORO COURT TEMPORARILY RELOCATES
Appeals Board to Hold Oral Arguments Later This Month
The Appeals Board will take up issues of when an occupational disease claim is ripe and the extent of attorney-client privilege at its next set of oral arguments. The arguments, to be conducted by videoconference, will take place on September 28. They will kick off at 9:00 a.m. Central Time with Cody v. G.UB.MK Constructors. … Continue reading Appeals Board to Hold Oral Arguments Later This Month
Bureau Announces Return-to-Work Learning Opportunity
The Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation will offer a free online training program beginning later this month to help employers develop or enhance the skills and knowledge to coordinate an employee’s return to employment after a work-related injury. The training is part of the Bureau’s newly developed Returning Employees to Work And Reducing Disabilities (REWARD) … Continue reading Bureau Announces Return-to-Work Learning Opportunity
Judicial Reappointments Announced
Abbie Hudgens, Administrator of the Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, announced that she has reappointed four judges to the Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims. They are: Robert Durham, Cookeville; Audrey Headrick, Chattanooga; Amber Luttrell, Jackson; and Dale Tipps, Murfreesboro. “The judges on the Court of Workers’ Compensation play a pivotal role in providing parties with … Continue reading Judicial Reappointments Announced
Just a couple things…
First, we promised we'd check in regarding the continuation of telephone settlement approvals at the end of June. It's July now. As previously announced, we plan to begin in-person approvals across the state after Labor Day, but each office will develop its own hours and protocols. These will be posted in the future as soon … Continue reading Just a couple things…
Appeals Board to Hear Five Cases
The Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board will hear oral argument in five cases a week from today, on June 24, via videoconference. First up at 9:00 a.m. Central Time will be Stephens v. Quality Private Care, dba Volunteer Staffing, Inc. The case raises several issues about the role of the Treatment Guidelines in determining medical … Continue reading Appeals Board to Hear Five Cases
Mark Your Calendars for Rulemaking Hearing
As promised in a previous blog post, please see this Notice of Rulemaking. The public hearing will be August 5, 2021, at 1:00 p.m. Central Time at the Bureau of Workers' Compensation, 220 French Landing Drive in Nashville. Written comments will also be accepted until close of business on August 19, 2021, and can be … Continue reading Mark Your Calendars for Rulemaking Hearing
Please Nominate a Deserving Candidate for Recognition
The Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation is accepting nominations for the Third Annual Sue Ann Head Award for Excellence in Workers’ Compensation. Nominees must have been involved in the Tennessee workers’ compensation system for a minimum of five years in one of the following categories: employer or employer’s representative, employee representative, service provider, claims professional, … Continue reading Please Nominate a Deserving Candidate for Recognition
The First Listening Session is TODAY
If you RSVP'd for TODAY's session (not May 14), you should have received your personal invite this morning. If you didn't receive an email from Court Clerk Penny Shrum, or didn't RSVP but would still like to attend, please contact her at Penny.Patterson-Shrum@tn.gov. The discussion starts promptly at 1:00 Central Time this afternoon. Photo by … Continue reading The First Listening Session is TODAY
From the Bench 