Ohio Industrial Commission Suspends Workers’ Compensation Hearings, Transitions to Conference Calls

Chairman Jim Hughes of the Industrial Commission issued the following statement on March 13.  We wanted you to have it today.  This is the only pronouncement the Commission has yet made.  We will report further, if there are significant developments related to the Commission’s new hearing policy.  Should you have any questions about how this policy affects your matters, please contact your Vorys lawyer.

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COLUMBUS, OH—The Ohio Industrial Commission announced today that all workers’ compensation hearings will be suspended from Monday, March 16 to Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

Beginning Wednesday, March 18, the Commission will begin conducting hearings by telephone for the following issues: permanent total disability, temporary total disability or the termination of temporary total disability, wage loss, allowance and additional allowance.

The Ohio Industrial Commission serves injured workers and Ohio employers through expeditious and impartial resolution of issues arising from workers' compensation claims and through the establishment of adjudication policy.