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WCJ Allowed to Amend Work Injury on Own Motion

Nathan Hughes

Source: City of Philadelphia v. WCAB (Smith), No. 768 C.D. 2007 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2008)

Analysis

Defendant appealed the Workers' Compensation Judge’s decision denying a termination petition based upon credit medical evidence of an injury beyond that listed on the operative document. The Commonwealth Court ruled that §413(a) allows a WCJ to amend the description of injury of his own volition if doing so is supported by credible evidence of record.

What it Means For You

The days of obtaining a termination because the operative document lists an artificially minor injury are gone. However, this does not mean that you should blindly expand the description of injury every time a new diagnosis is obtained. Contact a C&W workers’ compensation specialist to determine the best strategy regarding the injury description issue in your case.

About C&W

Cipriani & Werner is a professional corporation providing civil litigation and workman's compensation legal services to clients throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. If you have questions, feel free to contact Nathan Hughes at (412) 563-2500.

You can also read more about the article's related practice groups:
Workers' Compensation