|
Policy Name:
|
Court Cost
Payment
|
|
Policy #:
|
CP- 03-07
|
|
Code/Rule Reference:
|
R.C. 4123.522
|
|
Effective Date:
|
8/20/2014
|
|
Approved:
|
Rick Percy,
Chief of Operational Policy, Analytics and Compliance (signature on file)
|
|
Origin:
|
Claims Policy
|
|
Supersedes:
|
All Injury
Management policies, directives and memos regarding court cost payment that
predate the effective date of this policy.
|
|
History:
|
New 8/20/2014
|
I. POLICY
PURPOSE
The purpose of
this policy is to provide guidance for the processing and payment of litigation-related
bills.
II. APPLICABILITY
This policy
applies to BWC field operations staff and Benefits Payable.
III. DEFINITIONS
Attorney fees: An equitable amount
fixed by the trial judge and established upon the final determination of a
proceeding, payable to an attorney for legal services rendered in a matter.
Court costs:
For purposes
of this policy, the amount of money to process the legal proceeding through the
court system and for which the trial judge may apportion liability to a party
or parties.
Court Unit
512 Memo:
An Industrial Commission of Ohio (IC) document used to memorialize receipt of a
court judgment entry or decision.
Judgment Entry: A document created by
the court and signed by a judge, magistrate or designee to record the outcome
of a case; a court order.
Litigation-related
bills: The cost
associated with litigation of a case, such as independent medical reviews or
examinations, expert testimony, attorney fees, court costs.
IV. POLICY
A. It is the policy of BWC to
ensure that all litigation-related bills are paid in compliance with a judgment
entry in an appropriate and timely manner.
B. The BWC will not issue
payment or implement an order until:
1. The IC has sent BWC the Court
Unit 512 Memo; and
2. The Attorney General approves
payment.
BWC staff may refer to the
corresponding procedure for this policy entitled “Procedure for Court Cost
Payment” for further guidance.