OAH/WC Mediation Services forms have been updated. All of the OAH judge mediators are available one week per month for mediations. Parties seeking mediation may file a
Mediation Request Form [PDF format] or MS Word format. Please fill out the form as fully as possible. The more complete the form, the more likely we will be able to determine if the case is appropriate for mediation and schedule mediation.
The Mediation Request Form may be mailed to: P.O. Box 64620, St. Paul, MN 55164-0620. Please mark the outside of the envelope MEDIATION. As always, DO NOT SEND ANY CONFIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS WITH YOUR MEDIATION REQUEST FORM.
Please review the OAH Mediation Attorney Information Sheet [PDF format] or MS Word format with instructions on how and where to file your request OAH Mediation. You will also find contact information, the procedures for scheduling mediation and how to file documents, records and statements for OAH Mediation.
In addition, the Mediation Ground Rules [PDF format] and Mediation Agreement [PDF format] MS Word format are available for use by participants.
Notices can now be sent by e-mail for those who enroll. For all the details, read the E-service Announcement. The E-service Announcement is also available in PDF and MS Word formats for easier distribution and form completion.
Chief Judge Krause has issued Guidelines for Workers Compensation Division Practice [PDF format] to provide guidance to members of the workers compensation bar and to compensation judges regarding mutual expectations and best practices for the efficient and fair processing of matters before the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH). Please note that nothing contained in the Guidelines should be construed to modify or supplant existing rules of the tribunal or statutes pertaining to workers compensation.
OAH-WC has changed the telephone number for .239 requests. For all the details, visit the .239 Update Page.
OAH-WC is now using a Certificate of Readiness to determine when cases are ready to be set. The forms are available on the Certificate of Readiness Page and the Workers Comp Forms Page. Where all the parties are in agreement that the case should be set for hearing, please check that option and do not file any additional forms for the other parties. Where the parties are not in agreement, the employee's counsel may still file the Certificate of Readiness but another party may may object. There is a form for that purpose.
The goal of the Certificate of Readiness process is to set the matter on for hearing within 3 months of the filing of the Certificate of Readiness, where all parties agree that the case is ready for hearing.
Wireless internet access is now available at the Office of Administrative Hearings in our St. Paul location. A user name and password is required to use this service. User names and passwords are obtained at the front desk from Raven Plendl-Grant (or by email at Raven.Plendl-Grant@state.mn.us). The standard access is through a one-day pass. For those with frequent business at OAH, an extended pass is available. The extended pass requires approval. Contact Raven Plendl-Grant to apply for the extended pass. One-day passes are available pending approval of an extended pass.
The Office of Administrative Hearings has added digital signage in the waiting area. The digital signboard identifies the hearings and conferences for the day, the assigned Judge, and the room. A crawl across the bottom provides other useful information. The signage is mounted on the far wall of the waiting area next to the door to the hearing and conference rooms. In the past the ADR Division has not listed specific rooms for the various Judges but that will be changing. Attorneys are encouraged to locate which room their conference is in and to proceed directly to that room just as they would for a formal hearing.
The updated Intervenor Master List is now available. Need to contact an intervenor? This list will assist you in knowing where to send a Notice of the Right to Intervene in a workers' compensation dispute, and how to contact the intervening party to resolve the dispute.
Keep current on changes in Workers' Compensation practice at OAH. Join the listserv and receive the latest information by e-mail. For how to subscribe, read the Listserv FAQ.
Appeals of Compensation Judge decisions to the Workers Compensation Court of Appeals can be filed by facsimile transmission. Learn all about the new process in the Fax Appeal FAQ.
The Forms page has been updated to include a variety of forms for simplifying dismissal of parties or pleadings.
Assistant Chief ALJ Johnson has issued a standing order and a memorandum on IME Extension and Medical Testimony Orders and Notices of Intervention Status. The attorney agreement forms in this new process are available online. Proposed attorney fee orders have also been added. [Scroll to bottom of linked page.]
Attorneys can use the calendar update to assist the schedulers.
Visit the Forms Page for the latest updates in forms for Workers Comp practice.
The Workers Compensation Pretrial Order (also in Word format)
will assist the party needing to know when to file a pretrial statement and what to include in the statement.
The Videoconference Order (also in Word format) addresses special procedures for hearings
or conferences conducted by video, particularly how and where to submit exhibits and where the party is expected to appear.
Assistant Chief ALJ Johnson has set out some points of emphasis for the use of e-mail, particularly in the screening done for
Settlement Conferences. The specifics on using e-mail for Work Comp matters are set out in the E-mail in Work Comp Proceedings memo from Judge Johnson.
A Subpoena PowerPoint Presentation is available (through your browser) describing how to use, obtain, and serve subpoenas in Workers the process in Worker's Compensation proceedings.
Stipulation Status Conference FAQs (frequently asked questions) are answered.
Minnesota Statutes Chapter 176 govern Work Comp proceedings.
Minnesota Rules Chapter 1415 and 1420 govern Work Comp litigation procedures.
Appeals to the Workers Compensation Court of Appeals are governed by Minnesota Rules Chapter 9800.
If you need to contact Workers Comp staff, you can find telephone numbers and some email addresses on the Comp Contact Info list.
Last Updated - March 2, 2011