What to Expect at a Workers Compensation Hearing
Posted on by Colin Mahon
In Connecticut, the Workers’ Compensation Commission oversees all workers’ compensation claims. There are eight districts: Hartford, Norwich, New Haven, Bridgeport, Waterbury, New Britain, Stamford, and Middletown. Each district covers a specific geographic area, with the venue determined by the injury location. Cases can sometimes be moved for the parties' convenience.
If you have an upcoming workers’ compensation hearing in CT, here’s what you need to know.
Administrative Law Judges
Fifteen administrative law judges, along with a chairman, preside over workers’ compensation claims. These judges resolve disputes, consider evidence, and make rulings. Small panels of judges also hear appeals of contested decisions.
The Three Types of Hearings
There are three main types of hearings: informal, pre-formal, and formal. These hearings take place in conference rooms at district offices, which have separate waiting rooms for parties and attorneys. Parties check in at the front desk and are called into a conference room when the judge is ready.
Informal Hearings
Informal hearings are the most common. Parties meet with the judge to discuss issues such as compensability, employment relationships, medical causation, and treatment. The goal is to resolve disputes and clarify the main issues. Many issues are resolved informally.
Pre-Formal Hearings
Pre-formal hearings occur when major disputes cannot be resolved informally. Issues often include claim compensability, defenses, medical treatment, and benefit entitlement. The goal is to refine the issues for a formal hearing, if needed.
Formal Hearings
Formal hearings are akin to trials. Parties present evidence, including documents and testimony, to a judge. Judges can swear in witnesses, elicit testimony, accept or reject evidence, make rulings, and decide on disputed facts. The rules of evidence are more relaxed than in court, but objections are expected. A court reporter records everything said.
Conduct and Preparation
Each judge has unique preferences, but all parties must act respectfully towards the judges and the Commission. Parties should understand the case details and legal issues. An attorney can guide you through the process, making it more manageable and less stressful, especially if you are unfamiliar with the process or dealing with an injury.
Whichever type of hearing you are facing, having the right attorney can significantly ease the process. If you have questions about what to expect, schedule a free consultation with the workers’ compensation attorneys at Mahon, Quinn, & Mahon today.