656.283
Hearing rights and procedure; rules; impeachment evidence; use of standards for
evaluation of disability.
(1) Subject to ORS 656.319, any party or the Director of the Department of
Consumer and Business Services may at any time request a hearing on any matter
concerning a claim, except matters for which a procedure for resolving the
dispute is provided in another statute, including ORS 656.704.
(2) A request for
hearing may be made by any writing, signed by or on behalf of the party and
including the address of the party, requesting the hearing, stating that a
hearing is desired, and mailed to the Workers’ Compensation Board.
(3)(a) The board
shall refer the request for hearing to an Administrative Law Judge for
determination as expeditiously as possible. The hearing shall be scheduled for
a date not more than 90 days after receipt by the board of the request for
hearing. The hearing may not be postponed:
(A) Except in
extraordinary circumstances beyond the control of the requesting party; and
(B) For more than
120 days after the date of the postponed hearing.
(b) When a
hearing set pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection is postponed because
of the need to join one or more potentially responsible employers or insurers,
the assigned Administrative Law Judge shall reschedule the hearing as
expeditiously as possible after all potentially responsible employers and
insurers have been joined in the proceeding and the medical record has been
fully developed. The board shall adopt rules for hearings on claims involving
one or more potentially responsible employers and insurers that:
(A) Require the
parties to participate in any prehearing conferences required to expedite the
hearing; and
(B) Authorize the
Administrative Law Judge conducting the hearing to:
(i) Establish a
prehearing schedule for investigation of the claim, including but not limited
to the interviewing of the claimant;
(ii) Make
prehearing rulings necessary to promote full discovery and completion of the
medical record required for determination of the issues arising from the claim;
and
(iii) Specify
what is required of the claimant to meet the obligation to reasonably cooperate
with the investigation of claims.
(c) Nothing in
paragraph (b) of this subsection alters the obligation of an insurer or
self-insured employer to accept or deny a claim for compensation as required
under this chapter.
(d) If a hearing
has been postponed in accordance with paragraph (b) of this subsection:
(A) The director
may not consider the timeliness of a denial issued in the claim that is the
subject of the hearing for the purpose of imposing a penalty against an insurer
or self-insured employer that is potentially responsible for the claim; and
(B) The 120-day
maximum postponement established under paragraph (a) of this subsection for
rescheduling a hearing does not apply.
(4)(a) At least
60 days’ prior notice of the time and place of hearing shall be given to all
parties in interest by mail. Hearings shall be held in the county where the
worker resided at the time of the injury or such other place selected by the
Administrative Law Judge.
(b) The 60-day
prior notice required by paragraph (a) of this subsection:
(A) May be waived
by agreement of the parties and the board if waiver of the notice will result
in an earlier date for the hearing.
(B) Does not
apply to hearings in cases assigned to the Expedited Claim Service under ORS
656.291, cases involving stayed compensation under ORS 656.313 (1)(b) and
requests for hearing that are consolidated with an existing case with an
existing hearing date.
(5) A record of
all proceedings at the hearing shall be kept but need not be transcribed unless
a party requests a review of the order of the Administrative Law Judge.
Transcription shall be in written form as provided by ORS 656.295 (3).
(6) Except as
otherwise provided in this section and rules of procedure established by the
board, the Administrative Law Judge is not bound by common law or statutory
rules of evidence or by technical or formal rules of procedure, and may conduct
the hearing in any manner that will achieve substantial justice. Neither the
board nor an Administrative Law Judge may prevent a party from withholding
impeachment evidence until the opposing party’s case in chief has been
presented, at which time the impeachment evidence may be used. Impeachment
evidence consisting of medical or vocational reports not used during the course
of a hearing must be provided to any opposing party at the conclusion of the
presentation of evidence and before closing arguments are presented.
Impeachment evidence other than medical or vocational reports that is not
presented as evidence at hearing is not subject to disclosure. Evaluation of
the worker’s disability by the Administrative Law Judge shall be as of the date
of issuance of the reconsideration order pursuant to ORS 656.268. Any finding
of fact regarding the worker’s impairment must be established by medical
evidence that is supported by objective findings. The Administrative Law Judge
shall apply to the hearing of the claim such standards for evaluation of
disability as may be adopted by the director pursuant to ORS 656.726. Evidence
on an issue regarding a notice of closure that was not submitted at the
reconsideration required by ORS 656.268 is not admissible at hearing, and
issues that were not raised by a party to the reconsideration may not be raised
at hearing unless the issue arises out of the reconsideration order itself.
However, nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent or limit the
right of a worker, insurer or self-insured employer to present the
reconsideration record at hearing to establish by a preponderance of that
evidence that the standards adopted pursuant to ORS 656.726 for evaluation of
the worker’s permanent disability were incorrectly applied in the
reconsideration order pursuant to ORS 656.268. If the Administrative Law Judge
finds that the claim has been closed prematurely, the Administrative Law Judge
shall issue an order rescinding the notice of closure.
(7) Any party
shall be entitled to issuance and service of subpoenas under the provisions of
ORS 656.726 (2)(c). Any party or representative of the party may serve such
subpoenas.
(8) After a party
requests a hearing and before the hearing commences, the board, by rule, may
require the requesting party, if represented by an attorney, to notify the
Administrative Law Judge in writing that the attorney has conferred with the
other party and that settlement has been achieved, subject to board approval,
or that settlement cannot be achieved. [1965 c.285 §34; 1979 c.839 §7; 1981
c.535 §33; 1981 c.860 §§1,5; 1985 c.600 §9; 1987 c.884 §11; 1990 c.2 §20; 1995
c.332 §34; 1999 c.313 §7; 2003 c.667 §2; 2005 c.26 §11; 2005 c.624 §1; 2009
c.35 §2]
656.284 [Amended by 1953 c.671 §2; 1955
c.718 §2; 1959 c.450 §4; repealed by 1965 c.285 §95]
Notes of Decisions
Koskela v. Willamette Indus., Inc., 978 P.2d 1018 (Or. Ct. App. 1999).
· cites it 52× “If either party is dissatisfied with the order on reconsideration, it may request a hearing under ORS 656.283 before an ALJ. ORS 656.268(6)(g).”
Koskela v. Willamette Indus., Inc., 15 P.3d 548 (Or. 2000).
· cites it 22× “A party that is dissatisfied with an order on reconsideration may request a hearing under ORS 656.283. ORS 656.268(6)(f) (1995) renumbered as ORS 656.”
Saif Corp. v. Allen, 881 P.2d 773 (Or. 1994).
· cites it 18× “If the claim for medical services is denied, the worker may submit to the board a request for hearing pursuant to ORS 656.283. In the event the worker cannot locate the insurer or self-insured employer, if the worker does not know who the insurer or self-insured employer is, or…”
Logsdon v. SAIF Corp., 45 P.3d 990 (Or. Ct. App. 2002).
· cites it 18× “ORS 656.283 grants a claimant the right to request a hearing on any issue concerning compensation, including when the claimant became medically stationary.”
Trujillo v. Pac. Saf. Supply, 84 P.3d 119 (Or. 2004).
· cites it 15× “268 and ORS 656.283 satisfy due process. The case then went to hearing on the documentary evidence developed through reconsideration.”
Havi Grp. LP v. Fyock, 131 P.3d 793 (Or. Ct. App. 2006).
· cites it 16× “” 3 Employer’s position before the administrative law judge was based on a misunderstanding of the controlling statute. As amplified below, under ORS 656.283(3), a request for hearing “may be made by any writing, signed by or on behalf of the party * * (Emphasis added.”
Veselik v. SAIF Corp., 33 P.3d 1007 (Or. Ct. App. 2001).
· cites it 11× “Petitioner argues that ORS 656.283(7) is unconstitutional on its face and that the Supreme Court’s decision in Koskela v.”
Arvidson v. Liberty Nw. Ins. Corp., 467 P.3d 741 (Or. 2020).
· cites it 6× “When an insurer “objects to [a] reconsideration order, the [insurer] may request a hearing under ORS 656.283.” ORS 656.268 (6)(g). If the insurer requests such a hearing and the request relates to “any matter concerning a claim,” ORS 656.”
Williams v. Saif Corp., 797 P.2d 1036 (Or. 1990).
· cites it 12× “The court analyzed the problem this way: "ORS 656.283(7)[ [1] ] ensures that all parties will have the opportunity to present their evidence.”
Liberty Nw. Ins. Corp. v. Jacobson, 988 P.2d 442 (Or. Ct. App. 1999).
· cites it 9× “Kronsteiner’s representations and the material provided by VoTech, I agree with [the hearings judge] that the misrepresentations constitute a violation of OAR 436-120-0520(2) * * * [and] the spirit of the law as stated in ORS 656.283(2)(a). «* * * * t- *44 “After considering the…”
Martin v. City of Albany, 880 P.2d 926 (Or. 1994).
· cites it 5× “He requested a hearing under ORS 656.283 before the Hearings Division.”
Saif Corp. v. Herron, 836 P.2d 131 (Or. Ct. App. 1992).
· cites it 4× “268(4), (5), (6), (7) and (8), ORS 656.283(7), 656.295, 656.319, 656.325, 656.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 656.283(1) — 51 cases
Arvidson v. Liberty Nw. Ins. Corp., 467 P.3d 741 (Or. 2020).
“When an insurer “objects to [a] reconsideration order, the [insurer] may request a hearing under ORS 656.283.” ORS 656.268 (6)(g). If the insurer requests such a hearing and the request relates to “any matter concerning a claim,” ORS 656.”
Koskela v. Willamette Indus., Inc., 15 P.3d 548 (Or. 2000).
“A party that is dissatisfied with an order on reconsideration may request a hearing under ORS 656.283. ORS 656.268(6)(f) (1995) renumbered as ORS 656.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 656.283(2) — 16 cases
Saif Corp. v. Allen, 881 P.2d 773 (Or. 1994).
“If the claim for medical services is denied, the worker may submit to the board a request for hearing pursuant to ORS 656.283. In the event the worker cannot locate the insurer or self-insured employer, if the worker does not know who the insurer or self-insured employer is, or…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 656.283(2)(a) — 2 cases
Liberty Nw. Ins. Corp. v. Jacobson, 988 P.2d 442 (Or. Ct. App. 1999).
“Kronsteiner’s representations and the material provided by VoTech, I agree with [the hearings judge] that the misrepresentations constitute a violation of OAR 436-120-0520(2) * * * [and] the spirit of the law as stated in ORS 656.283(2)(a). «* * * * t- *44 “After considering the…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 656.283(2)(b) — 1 case
Liberty Nw. Ins. Corp. v. Jacobson, 988 P.2d 442 (Or. Ct. App. 1999).
“Kronsteiner’s representations and the material provided by VoTech, I agree with [the hearings judge] that the misrepresentations constitute a violation of OAR 436-120-0520(2) * * * [and] the spirit of the law as stated in ORS 656.283(2)(a). «* * * * t- *44 “After considering the…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 656.283(2)(c) — 1 case
Liberty Nw. Ins. Corp. v. Jacobson, 988 P.2d 442 (Or. Ct. App. 1999).
“Kronsteiner’s representations and the material provided by VoTech, I agree with [the hearings judge] that the misrepresentations constitute a violation of OAR 436-120-0520(2) * * * [and] the spirit of the law as stated in ORS 656.283(2)(a). «* * * * t- *44 “After considering the…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 656.283(2)(c)(D) — 1 case
Liberty Nw. Ins. Corp. v. Jacobson, 988 P.2d 442 (Or. Ct. App. 1999).
“Kronsteiner’s representations and the material provided by VoTech, I agree with [the hearings judge] that the misrepresentations constitute a violation of OAR 436-120-0520(2) * * * [and] the spirit of the law as stated in ORS 656.283(2)(a). «* * * * t- *44 “After considering the…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 656.283(2)(d) — 2 cases
Liberty Nw. Ins. Corp. v. Jacobson, 988 P.2d 442 (Or. Ct. App. 1999).
“Kronsteiner’s representations and the material provided by VoTech, I agree with [the hearings judge] that the misrepresentations constitute a violation of OAR 436-120-0520(2) * * * [and] the spirit of the law as stated in ORS 656.283(2)(a). «* * * * t- *44 “After considering the…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 656.283(3) — 9 cases
Havi Grp. LP v. Fyock, 131 P.3d 793 (Or. Ct. App. 2006).
“” 3 Employer’s position before the administrative law judge was based on a misunderstanding of the controlling statute. As amplified below, under ORS 656.283(3), a request for hearing “may be made by any writing, signed by or on behalf of the party * * (Emphasis added.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 656.283(3)(a) — 1 case
Arvidson v. Liberty Nw. Ins. Corp., 467 P.3d 741 (Or. 2020).
“When an insurer “objects to [a] reconsideration order, the [insurer] may request a hearing under ORS 656.283.” ORS 656.268 (6)(g). If the insurer requests such a hearing and the request relates to “any matter concerning a claim,” ORS 656.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 656.283(3)(c) — 1 case
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 656.283(4) — 5 cases
Koskela v. Willamette Indus., Inc., 15 P.3d 548 (Or. 2000).
“A party that is dissatisfied with an order on reconsideration may request a hearing under ORS 656.283. ORS 656.268(6)(f) (1995) renumbered as ORS 656.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 656.283(5) — 3 cases
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 656.283(6) — 17 cases
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 656.283(7) — 59 cases
Koskela v. Willamette Indus., Inc., 978 P.2d 1018 (Or. Ct. App. 1999).
“If either party is dissatisfied with the order on reconsideration, it may request a hearing under ORS 656.283 before an ALJ. ORS 656.268(6)(g).”
Koskela v. Willamette Indus., Inc., 15 P.3d 548 (Or. 2000).
“A party that is dissatisfied with an order on reconsideration may request a hearing under ORS 656.283. ORS 656.268(6)(f) (1995) renumbered as ORS 656.”
Logsdon v. SAIF Corp., 45 P.3d 990 (Or. Ct. App. 2002).
“ORS 656.283 grants a claimant the right to request a hearing on any issue concerning compensation, including when the claimant became medically stationary.”
Trujillo v. Pac. Saf. Supply, 84 P.3d 119 (Or. 2004).
“268 and ORS 656.283 satisfy due process. The case then went to hearing on the documentary evidence developed through reconsideration.”
Veselik v. SAIF Corp., 33 P.3d 1007 (Or. Ct. App. 2001).
“Petitioner argues that ORS 656.283(7) is unconstitutional on its face and that the Supreme Court’s decision in Koskela v.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 656.283(8) — 1 case
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 656.283(l) — 1 case
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