Claim of Murray v. St. Joseph's Hospital
The State Insurance Fund appealed a decision by the Workers’ Compensation Board, filed March 10, 1995. The Board had denied the Fund’s application to transfer a claimant’s workers’ compensation case to the original Workers’ Compensation Law Judge (WCLJ) after a final determination awarding benefits had already been made. The appellate court affirmed the Board’s decision, citing Workers’ Compensation Law § 20, which states that a continued hearing before the same referee is only required until a final determination is reached. Since a final award had been made, the court found no requirement to assign the matter to the original WCLJ, deferring to the Board's interpretation of the statute.