Title: 

APD 011929

Significant Decision

Date: 

October 3, 2001

Issues: 

Extent of Injury

Table of Contents

APD 011929

This appeal arises pursuant to the Texas Workers’ Compensation Act, TEX. LAB. CODE ANN. § 401.001 et seq. (1989 Act). A contested case hearing (CCH) was held on June 22, 2001. The hearing officer determined that the appellant’s (claimant) compensable injury of ________, did not extend to and include either the right arm radius or the left knee. The claimant has appealed these adverse determinations on sufficiency of the evidence grounds. The respondent (carrier) replied, urging affirmance.

DECISION

Reversed and remanded.

This case is remanded for the purpose of compliance with HB2600 amending Section 410.164, effective June 17, 2001. Section 410.164 was amended by the addition of subsection (c), which provides as follows:

(c)At each [CCH], as applicable, the insurance carrier shall file with the hearing officer and shall deliver to the claimant a single document stating the true corporate name of the insurance carrier and the name and address of the insurance carrier’s registered agent for service of process. The document is part of the record of the [CCH].

The procedure for implementing this statutory amendment is in the June 19, 2001, Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission (Commission) memorandum to hearing officers entitled “Required Insurance Carrier Information.” A rehearing on remand is required to obtain this information and admit it into the record. Although the Decision and Order in this case lists a Hearing Officer Exhibit No. 2 as the Insurance Carrier Information, there was absolutely no mention of such an exhibit on the tape recording of the CCH, and no such exhibit was attached to the other exhibits in this case. The hearing officer may reissue her original decision, as the Decision on Remand, with the added information, or she may incorporate by reference the original decision into a Decision on Remand, with the added information.

Pending resolution of the remand, a final decision has not been made in this case. However, since reversal and remand necessitate the issuance of a new decision and order by the hearing officer, a party who wishes to appeal from such new decision must file a request for review not later than 15 days after the date on which such new decision is received from the Commission’s Division of Hearings, pursuant to Section 410.202 (amended June 17, 2001). See Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission Appeal No. 92642, decided January 20, 1993.

Michael B. McShane – Appeals Judge

CONCUR:

Susan M. Kelley – Appeals Judge

Thomas A. Knapp – Appeals Judge