Opinion ID: 1799088
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: facts

Text: Prior to July 1, 1983, all claims for worker's compensation benefits were filed as a civil suit in state district court. In 1983, the Office of Worker's Compensation Administration was established, and disputed claims for worker's compensation benefits were evaluated by the director of the OWC, who issued an advisory recommendation which could be accepted or rejected by the employee. If the employee rejected this recommendation, he was free to file suit in district court. The worker's compensation adjudication system was again changed by Act 938 of 1988, which became effective January 1, 1990. Under Act 938, a system of nine administrative hearing officers was created, and the hearing officers were vested with original, exclusive jurisdiction over all claims filed pursuant to the Worker's Compensation Act. However, in Moore v. Roemer, 567 So.2d 75 (La.1990), this court invalidated the hearing officer system, holding that Act 938 of 1988 divested the district court of original jurisdiction in violation of LA. CONST. art. V, § 16(A). See Long v. Insurance Co. of North America, 595 So.2d 636 (La.1992). Subsequent to Moore v. Roemer , LA. CONST. art. V, § 16(A) was amended to provide, in relevant part: Except as otherwise authorized by this constitution or except as heretofore or hereafter provided by law for administrative agency determinations in worker's compensation matters, a district court shall have original jurisdiction of all civil and criminal matters. LA. CONST. art. V, § 16(A)(1); (Emphasis added). This amendment became effective on November 8, 1990. La.R.S. 23:1310.3(E) is the statutory grant of jurisdiction to hearing officers authorized by LA. CONST. art. V, § 16(A)(1). It states: Except as otherwise provided by R.S. 23:1101(D) and 1378(E), the hearing officer shall be vested with original, exclusive jurisdiction over all claims or disputes arising out of this Chapter. La.R.S. 23:1310.3(E)(Emphasis added).