Source: http://www.ppsb.org/ourpages/district_info/Statutes/231310-3.htm
Timestamp: 2017-12-18 01:12:51
Document Index: 796834118

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1']

23:1310.3
23:1310.3 Initiation of claims; voluntary mediation; procedure
A. A claim for benefits, the controversion of entitlement to benefits, or other relief under the Workers’ Compensation Act shall be initiated by the filing of the appropriate form with the office of workers’ compensation administration. Mailing, facsimile transmission, or electronic transmission of the form and payment of the filing fee within five days of any such mailing or transmission constitutes the initiation of a claim under R.S. 23:1209.
B. Upon receipt of the form, the director shall assign the matter to a district. Upon receipt of the form, a district office shall effect service of process on any named defendant in any manner provided by law or by certified mail. All subsequent pleadings requiring service shall also be served in any manner provided by law or by certified mail. A defendant shall file an answer within fifteen days of service of the form or within a delay for answering granted by the workers’ compensation judge not to exceed an additional ten days.
D. (1) Upon joint request of the parties, or upon order of the presiding workers’ compensation judge, all parties shall engage the services of either of the following:
(a) A Louisiana Workforce Commission, office of workers’ compensation administration mediator, and such mediation shall be held in the district office in which the selected mediator is assigned.
E. If any party fails to appear at a mediation conference ordered by the judge or requested by the parties after proper notice, the workers’ compensation judge upon request of a party may fine the delinquent party an amount not to exceed five hundred dollars, which shall be payable to the Office of Workers’ Compensation Administrative Fund. In addition, the workers’ compensation judge may assess against the party failing to attend costs and reasonable attorney fees incurred by any other party in connection with the conference. The penalties provided for in this Subsection shall be assessed by the workers’ compensation judge only after a contradictory hearing which shall be held prior to the hearing on the merits of the dispute.
F. Except as otherwise provided by R.S. 23:1101(B), 1361, and 1378(E), the workers’ compensation judge shall be vested with original, exclusive jurisdiction over all claims or disputes arising out of this Chapter, including but not limited to workers’ compensation insurance coverage disputes, group self-insurance indemnity contract disputes, employer demands for recovery for overpayment of benefits, the determination and recognition of employer credits as provided for in this Chapter, and cross-claims between employers or workers’ compensation insurers or self-insurance group funds for indemnification or contribution, concursus proceedings pursuant to Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Articles 4651 et seq. concerning entitlement to workers’ compensation benefits, payment for medical treatment, or attorney fees arising out of an injury subject to this Chapter.
G. (1) Any party challenging the constitutionality of any provision of this Chapter shall specially plead such an allegation in the original petition, an exception, written motion, or answer, which shall state with particularity the grounds for such an allegation.
Added by Acts 1988, No. 938, § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 1990. Amended by Acts 1989, No. 26, § 1; Acts 1991, No. 892, § 1; Acts 1992, No. 760, § 1; Acts 1995, No. 348, § 1, eff. June 16, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 94, § 1, eff. June 11, 1997; Acts 2001, No. 1084, § 1; Acts 2004, No. 341, § 1, eff. June 18, 2004; Acts 2005, No. 257, § 1; Acts 2006, No. 48, § 1, eff. May 16, 2006; Acts 2010, No. 53, § 1.