This appeal arises under the Texas Workers’ Compensation Act, TEX. REV. CIV. STAT. ANN. art. 8308-1.01 et seq. (Vernon Supp. 1993) (1989 Act). On April 2, 1993, a contested case hearing (CCH) was held in (city) Texas, with (hearing officer) presiding as hearing officer. The issues acknowledged at the CCH were:
1.Whether or not CLAIMANT was injured in the course and scope of his employment.
2.Whether or not CLAIMANT timely notified EMPLOYER of his injury.
The hearing officer determined that the claimant was injured in the course and scope of his employment on (date of injury), and that claimant had good cause for not notifying his employer of that injury until December 29, 1992.
Appellant, carrier herein, contends that the hearing officer’s decision was erroneous as being against the great weight of the credible evidence and requests we reverse the hearing officer’s decision and render a decision in its favor. Respondent, claimant herein, does not file a response.
DECISION
We find that the appeal in this matter was not filed within the time limits required by Article 8308-6.41(a) and the decision of the hearing officer is the final administrative decision in this case. See Article 8308-6.34(h) of the 1989 Act.
The carrier apparently concedes the appeal was not timely filed by stating:
The Decision and Order has not be forwarded to the attorney for Carrier. Therefore, the Carrier and its attorney were denied the opportunity to timely discuss whether an Appeal should be filed in this matter, and hence, an Appeal has not yet been filed by the Carrier within the fifteen days perscribed (sic) by the statute. The attorney has just become aware of an Award being rendered and is now filing this Appeal with good cause for the delay in doing so.
Apparently, the issue carrier suggests is that the time for filing does not (or should not) begin until the attorney for the carrier is served a copy of the hearing officer’s decision and has had an opportunity to discuss an appeal with the client, carrier.
We note that the carrier, as the party of interest, was sent a copy of the hearing officer’s decision pursuant to Tex. W.C. Comm’n, 28 TEX. ADMIN. CODE § 102.5(b) (Rule 102.5(b)) at the carrier’s Austin representative’s address. We also note that pursuant to Rule 156.1, each insurance carrier is required to designate an Austin representative and pursuant to Rule 156.1(c), “[a]ny notice from the commission, sent to the designated representative’s Austin address is notice from the commission to the insurance carrier.” Furthermore, in Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission Advisory 92-07, dated November 3, 1992, all carrier representatives were advised:
Beginning November 30, 1992, all documents and notices required to be provided by the Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission to insurance companies that provide workers’ compensation coverage will be placed in the Carrier’s Austin Commission Representative’s Box on the first floor in the Central Office.
This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, documents such as Set Notices for Benefit Review Conferences and Contested Case Hearings and transmittal letters containing Benefit Review Conference Reports, Contested Case Hearing Decisions, and Appeals Panel Decisions. No additional copies of such documents will be mailed to Carriers’ Representatives who have attended such proceedings. (Emphasis added.)
Although carrier’s attorney does not specify when they, or carrier, received the hearing officer’s decision, we note the decision was distributed by mail to the carrier’s Austin representative, on April 14, 1993. Allowing five days for mailing pursuant to Rule 102.5(h), the deemed date of receipt would have been April 19, 1993, and 15 days from that date would have been Tuesday, May 4, 1993, which would be the statutory date by which an appeal must be filed. The appeal was not filed until May 7, 1993.
We do not question that a copy of the hearing officer’s decision was not sent to carrier’s attorney and that the attorney may have just become aware of the decision; however, in accordance with Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission Appeal No. 92219, decided July 15, 1992, and Rule 102.5(b) we have previously held that it is receipt by a party, in this case the carrier, not the attorney, which controls. See also Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission Advisory 92-07.
Article 8308-6.34(h) states the decision of the hearing officer is final in the absence of a timely appeal. Determining the appeal was not timely filed, as set forth above, we have no jurisdiction to review the hearing officer’s decision.
Accordingly, the decision of the hearing officer is final.
Thomas A. Knapp – Appeals Judge
CONCUR:
Stark O. Sanders, Jr. – Chief Appeals Judge
Joe Sebesta – Appeals Judge