Chapter 0800-02-21

These rules govern the procedures for workers’ compensation disputes before the court of workers’ compensation claims and alternative dispute resolution. They are intended to provide an efficient, expedient, and fair resolution of workers’ compensation disputes in accordance with…

(1) Administrator. The chief administrative officer of the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. (2) Appeals Judge. A judge of the workers’ compensation appeals board. (3) Appeals Board. The workers’ compensation appeals board. (4) Bureau. The Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. (5) Cata…

(1) Unless otherwise noted, the time required for completing any actions in these rules is calculated as in Rule 6.01 of the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure. (2) Except for filing a petition for benefit determination under T.C.A. § 50-6-203 and a request for hearing under T.C.…

(1) At any hearing or alternative dispute resolution: (a) Any party may be represented by a Tennessee-licensed attorney in good standing. (b) Any party who is a natural person may represent himself or herself. (c) Any corporation or other artificial person may participate in alte…

The bureau may admit foreign attorneys to appear pro hac vice by application on a form approved by the Administrator.

The employer must pay a filing fee of one hundred and fifty dollars ($150) to the clerk at the time of a settlement approval or the conclusion of a case. A filing fee is assessed at all later settlement approvals or at the conclusion of every re-opening of the case. The filing fe…

All documents filed with the bureau or clerk, including those filed electronically, must be the most recent version approved by the bureau, if a form or template is available. March, 2026 (Revised) 5 COURT OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CLAIMS AND CHAPTER 0800-02-21 ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE…

Copies of all documents filed with the bureau or clerk must be served on all parties or their attorneys, if represented. Service must occur either before filing with the bureau or clerk or within a reasonable time afterward. Service may be accomplished by hand delivery, mail or c…

(1) The ombudsman program assists injured or disabled employees, persons claiming death benefits, employers, and other persons in protecting their rights, resolving disputes, and obtaining information. The ombudsman program is available only to those individuals or organizations …

(1) Resolution of a dispute for benefits begins when a party files a petition for benefit determination on a form prescribed by the Administrator as required by Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-203 and as defined in Rule 0800-02-21-.02(23). (2) (a) If a party files a petitio…

(1) After a dispute certification notice is filed with the clerk, either party may file a hearing request with the clerk on a form approved by the Administrator and serve a copy of the request on all parties or their counsel. If no hearing request is filed within sixty (60) days …

(1) The space between the bench and counsel table in the courtroom is reserved for parties, attorneys, and court officials. Spectators and witnesses must sit in the general seating area. The presence of infants and small children is discouraged. (2) During the hearing, attorneys …

(1) All hearings, except settlement approvals, are recorded for the judge’s use. The court cannot guarantee the quality of the recording. The parties may purchase an audio recording of the hearing from the clerk for twenty-five dollars ($25). The parties may have the audio record…

(1) All parties or their counsel must participate in a scheduling hearing with a judge after a hearing request is filed. (2) After the scheduling hearing is set, the clerk will send a docketing notice to all parties with the case number, time of the scheduling hearing, and judge …

(1) When the parties dispute temporary disability and/or medical benefits, either party may file a hearing request. The hearing request must be accompanied by an affidavit or a T.R.C.P. Rule 72 declaration under penalty of perjury, which must contain a plain, concise statement of…

(1) If requested, a medical provider treating an injured employee must furnish copies of records at a cost allowed by T.C.A. § 50-6-204 for paper records and Rule 0800-02-17-.24 for non- paper records. The medical provider must forward the records within ten (10) business days of…

(1) Parties are encouraged to obtain any necessary discovery informally to avoid undue expense and delay. When these attempts fail or the complexity of the case makes informal discovery impracticable, discovery must be sought in accordance with the Tennessee Rules of Civil Proced…

(1) Except as otherwise provided in these rules, any party may file a dispositive motion in accordance with the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure. (a) The moving party must provide any non-moving, self-represented party with a copy of the rule or statute on which the dispositive…

(1) Whenever a judge issues an interlocutory or compensation order and a party fails to comply with that order, the party seeking enforcement of the order may file a motion to compel. Before filing the motion, the moving party must contact the opposing party to inform the party t…

(1) Prehearing briefs for expedited and compensation hearings are encouraged. Unless the scheduling order provides otherwise, prehearing briefs must be filed at least ten (10) business days before the hearing. Briefs submitted by attorneys shall utilize size fourteen (14) Times N…

(1) All parties must participate in alternative dispute resolution after discovery is completed unless the judge determines it unnecessary. (2) Alternative dispute resolution under this section must be conducted as provided by Rule 0800-02-21-.10. (3) If the parties do not reach …

(1) The compensation hearing will be conducted at the time and place specified in the scheduling order. Absent good cause, no motion for a continuance will be considered at the compensation hearing. (2) Ten (10) business days before the date of a compensation hearing or as otherw…

(1) In any case where the parties reach a full settlement, the settlement will not become effective until it has been signed by all parties and approved by a judge. (2) Unless the settlement is of a disputed claim as provided by T.C.A. § 50-6-240, the settlement agreement must co…

(1) A party may move to voluntarily dismiss a petition for benefit determination only once. If an employee has been awarded temporary benefits through an interlocutory order or a motion for summary judgment is pending, a party may not move to voluntarily dismiss the petition. If …

(1) Any party may appeal any order of a workers’ compensation judge to the workers’ compensation appeals board by filing a notice of appeal, on a form approved by the Administrator, with the clerk of the court of workers’ compensation claims. (2) An appeal to the Tennessee Suprem…

An expedited request for investigative report signed and dated by a compliance specialist is a self- authenticating document/government record that is admissible in all court hearings.

The court of workers’ compensation claims has no jurisdiction over a claim for benefits filed against the state by a state employee.