Case Settlements – Who approves injured workers’ Virginia Workers Compensation settlements?
While Herndon job injury lawyer Doug Landau advises clients that settling comp claims take time and effort, there are still many questions about the settlements of workers compensation cases. The Virginia Code provides (65.2-701) that compromise settlements of workplace accident, occupational disease or job fatality cases, “may be approved only when the Commission…is clearly of the opinion that the best interests of the employee or his dependents will be served thereby.” Rule 1.7 sets forth the requirements for a compromise settlement package. Unlike the resolution of a car crash or dog attack case, a workers comp case requires a number of documents (and signatures !).
The Virginia Workers Compensation Commission does not approve every single settlement that is submitted to it. The VWCC is not a “rubber stamp” and settlement documents are carefully reviewed. Deputy Commissioner Courtney Mercer manages the Compromise Settlement Department, with a claims examiner who supervises the department and who is assisted by a claims technician and two senior judicial secretaries. Deputy Commissioner Mercer, shown here with workplace accident and fatality lawyer Doug Landau, shared his thoughts with a select group of injured workers’ attorneys today in Richmond. If you or someone you know, has questions about their workers compensation case or settlement, please contact ABRAMS LANDAU or call us (703-796-9555) today.