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Appellate
Division
The newly created Appellate Division of the Workers’ Compensation Board was established by the 125th Legislature as part of the restructure of the Maine workers’ compensation system. [hyperlink to PL 2011 ch 647 §§19-21]. The division went into effect August 30, 2012.
Creation of the division changes the process for challenging the decision of a single Hearing Officer of the Board. Parties must now first bring an appeal to the division, and not the Law Court. The Law Court has amended Maine Rule of Appellate Procedure 23 to eliminate direct, discretionary appeals from decisions of a single Board Hearing Officer [hyperlink to Me.R.App.P 23].
Any party may file an appeal with the division by submitting form “Notice of Intent to Appeal” (form # WCB-240) [hyperlink to form wcb-240] to the division Clerk’s Office in Portland.
Appeals are “of right” (i.e., not discretionary) and may be taken from any decision of a single Board Hearing Officer made pursuant to section 318 of the Workers’ Compensation Act.
Cases on appeal will be heard by a panel of no less than three (3) of the Board’s Hearing Officers (excluding the Hearing Officer whose decision is under review) appointed by the Board’s Executive Director. The panel will issue a written decision reversing or modifying the original decree.
Appeals from a decision of the full Board pursuant to section 320 or from a decision of the Appellate Division will continue to be brought as discretionary appeals to the Law Court.
Clerk’s
Office
Appellate Division
Maine Workers’ Compensation Board
62 Elm Street
Portland, ME 04101
Appellate
Division Staff
Sally Enoch, Clerk/Staff Attorney
62 Elm Street
Portland, ME 04101
(207) 822-0820
Featured
Links
Notice of Intent to
Appeal (WCB-240)
Rules of Appellate Division Effective 2-9-2013
Maine Rule of Appellate
Procedure 23 (amended)
http://www.courts.state.me.us/rules_adminorders/rules/mr_app_p_amends_8-2-12.pdf