Maryland Workers’ Comp Commission Closed
One of the Maryland workers’ compensation Commissioners had a death in the family. The Commissioner’s mother passed away. I do not want to be unsympathetic to that fact. I still have my mother with me and it’s something for which I’m grateful. I feel for the Commissioner at issue during this difficult time.
That said, closing the Commission is completely inappropriate. Any claimant with hearings scheduled today will now have to wait for their hearing. This will likely be at least a few weeks. Claimants often struggle to make it until they are paid. Therefore, it is favorable to the employer/insurer side and unfavorable to the claimant side.
In addition, Maryland workers’ compensation lawyers representing claimants work on a statutorily set fee, essentially only getting paid when their client’s get relief. The defense bar generally works hourly. Claimant attorneys are more likely to be hurt by this action.
Is every single Commissioner scheduled to have hearings on 4/15 attending the funeral? Does that even matter? How often does this happen or could it happen?
There could be facts I’m unaware of. If so, I’d love to be enlightened. If there’s nothing I’m missing, I think this is inappropriate.