This appeal arises pursuant to the Texas Workers' Compensation Act, TEX. LAB. CODE ANN. § 401.001 et seq. (1989 Act). A contested case hearing was held on July 12, 2004. The hearing officer resolved the disputed issue by determining that the appellant’s (claimant) _______________, compensable injury does not include the diagnosed left shoulder impingement. The respondent (carrier) responded, asserting that the claimant’s request for review is untimely and otherwise urging affirmance.

DECISION

The decision and order of the hearing officer have become final pursuant to Section 410.169.

A written request for appeal must be filed within 15 days of the date of receipt of the hearing officer's decision. Section 410.202(a). Tex. W.C. Comm'n, 28 TEX. ADMIN. CODE § 143.3(e) (Rule 143.3(e)) provides that an appeal is presumed to have been timely filed if it is mailed not later than the 15th day after the date of receipt of the hearing officer's decision and received by the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission (Commission) not later than the 20th day after the date of receipt of the hearing officer's decision. Both portions of Rule 143.3(e) must be satisfied in order for an appeal to be timely. Texas Workers' Compensation Commission Appeal No. 94065, decided March 1, 1994. Pursuant to Section 410.202(d), Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays listed in Section 662.003 of the Texas Government Code are not included in the computation of time in which a request for appeal must be filed.

Commission records indicate that the hearing officer's decision was mailed to the claimant on July 16, 2004. The claimant states in her appeal that she received the decision on July 20, 2004. The last date for the claimant to timely file an appeal was August 10, 2004. The claimant mailed her appeal to the Commission on August 12, 2004, as is evidenced by the postmark on the envelope which contained the appeal. The appeal is, therefore, untimely.

The appeal being untimely, the jurisdiction of the Appeals Panel was not properly invoked and the decision and order of the hearing officer has become final pursuant to Section 410.169.

The true corporate name of the insurance carrier is VALLEY FORGE INSURANCE COMPANY and the name and address of its registered agent for service of process is

CT CORPORATION SYSTEM

350 NORTH ST. PAUL STREET

DALLAS, TEXAS 75201.

Daniel R. Barry
Appeals Judge

CONCUR:

Robert W. Potts
Appeals Judge

Margaret L. Turner
Appeals Judge