By Chief Judge Kenneth M. Switzer, Nashville There’s no place like home. Some people have to travel far from home for a settlement approval. Over the years, the Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims has secured remote locations to hold settlement approval hearings. We’ve done this because our judges are located in eight cities across the … Continue reading In Re: Residents of Montgomery, Stewart, and Houston Counties
Tag: Settlements
Reminders
The Bureau will be closed on Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. (Although TNComp is available 24/7/365.) Also, settlement approvals will proceed in Nashville on January 25, but nowhere else statewide. And no settlement approvals will take place on January 26 or 27 statewide due to a judicial conference. "Hate cannot drive … Continue reading Reminders
A Primer on Affidavit Approvals in Nashville
By Sarah McMahan, Administrative Assistant, Nashville On March 10, 1876, Alexander Graham Bell made the first successful telephone transmission of clear speech, famously saying, “Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you.” Bell probably never imagined how his invention would evolve over the years, or that for most of us, it would become almost … Continue reading A Primer on Affidavit Approvals in Nashville
Basic Settlement Rules, SD-2s, and Other Animals
By Judge Dale Tipps, Murfreesboro Some good news for the new year – this isn’t a post about CMS or MSA approvals! Instead, let’s talk about other aspects of settlement procedures. As you know all too well, the process varies from office to office. This is due to differences in staffing and facilities, the traditional … Continue reading Basic Settlement Rules, SD-2s, and Other Animals
Resolve to Visit Clarksville for an Approval
By Penny Shrum, Court Clerk, Nashville Do you set the same resolution every year? I haven’t chosen one in a few years. While looking for ideas, I came across one that said “go somewhere you’ve never been.” Have you been to Clarksville for a settlement? This is the year to commit to going. It’s the … Continue reading Resolve to Visit Clarksville for an Approval
ALERT: WATER MAIN BREAK CAUSES MEMPHIS OFFICE CLOSURE
Settlement approvals will be held by phone this week only. Due to inclement weather, the City of Memphis has experienced several water main breaks. The breaks have left the Memphis office of the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation uninhabitable until the low water pressure can be fixed. Staff will be working remotely. Therefore, for this week … Continue reading ALERT: WATER MAIN BREAK CAUSES MEMPHIS OFFICE CLOSURE
Changes Afoot for Memphis Settlements
By Judge Shaterra Marion, Memphis It’s hard to believe I’ve been on the bench for over a month already. I’ve already done about 150 settlement approvals using our current process, but things are a-changing. Specifically, the Memphis Court settlement approval process is changing, effective January 3, 2023. Settlement approvals will take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, … Continue reading Changes Afoot for Memphis Settlements
A Word About Settlement Filing Fees
By Judge Dale Tipps, Murfreesboro We’re nice people. Really, we are. (Except for that one person, and they know who they are.) So whenever possible, the Court tries to be accommodating to the folks who need our services. This is why, in the past, we occasionally allowed defense counsel to pay a filing fee after … Continue reading A Word About Settlement Filing Fees
Update: Settling Cases with MSAs
By Judge Dale Tipps, Murfreesboro Readers of the Court’s blog are no doubt familiar with our ever-popular classic, Settling Cases with Medicare Set-Aside Agreements, where we made it clear that the Court won’t review or approve MSAs entered into by parties seeking to close future medical benefits. That hasn’t changed – we’re still not going … Continue reading Update: Settling Cases with MSAs
No Settlement Approvals Statewide July 20-22
The judges will be at a judicial conference. Thanks. Shelby Park, Nashville.
Court Creates New Settlement Templates for Death Benefits
By Judge Pamela Johnson, Knoxville “Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better.” – Pat Riley “On occasion we need to make a second effort – and a third effort, and a fourth effort, and as many degrees of effort as may be required to accomplish what we strive to achieve.” – … Continue reading Court Creates New Settlement Templates for Death Benefits
Memphis Settlements: The Sequel
By Chief Judge Kenneth M. Switzer, Nashville As Top Gun: Maverick has shown, sometimes a sequel can be a huge hit and even more successful than the original. We’re hoping for the same with this article. After publishing yesterday’s blog about an adjustment in the Memphis settlement process, we learned that some misunderstanding occurred in … Continue reading Memphis Settlements: The Sequel
Memphis Settlements: New Process and a Satellite Location
By Chief Judge Kenneth M. Switzer, Nashville Memphis, Nashville, and Murfreesboro conduct the most settlement approvals in Tennessee. Memphis has presented difficulties for some time now with providing enough settlement times to accommodate the large volume. The location and accessibility of the Memphis office unfortunately complicate the matter. We’ve long heard stories of difficulty finding … Continue reading Memphis Settlements: New Process and a Satellite Location
Templates Revised for Disputed Cases: No Doubt
By Judge Lisa A. Lowe, Knoxville We use certain words to mean certain things. Sometimes we use a word or phrase out of habit, without really thinking of the meaning or implication. For example, those involved in Tennessee workers’ compensation cases are familiar with what we have called “doubtful and disputed” settlements. “Doubtful” means uncertainty … Continue reading Templates Revised for Disputed Cases: No Doubt
Remember to Set Approvals at Remote Locations
By Chief Judge Kenneth M. Switzer, Nashville A quick reminder that the Court returns to in-person settlements this week across the state at our regional courtrooms. In addition, we remind of the following remote locations, with dates and contact information. Judge Addington: Hamblen County, first Wednesday each month from 9 a.m. Eastern Time to noon … Continue reading Remember to Set Approvals at Remote Locations
Returning to In-Person Settlements
By Chief Judge Kenneth M. Switzer, Nashville The days are numbered for telephone settlement approvals. In just a few short weeks, we’ll return to in-person settlement approvals, on April 4, 2022. We announced this previously and promised a more detailed article once we ironed out the wrinkles. So here we go. In-person is the rule; … Continue reading Returning to In-Person Settlements
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
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.
COVID, the Greek Alphabet, and Settlements
By Chief Judge Kenneth M. Switzer, Nashville Reportedly, I’m of Greek heritage. I don’t speak Greek, and I don’t know the Greek alphabet. But if it has the same number of letters as the English alphabet, we’ve at least reached the fifteenth letter. (Does that mean when we get to Zeta, the pandemic must be … Continue reading COVID, the Greek Alphabet, and Settlements
From the Bench 