Formal Hearing

Meeting between the parties in a workers' compensation case and presided over by a Workers' Compensation Commissioner for the purpose of resolving differences, disagreements, and the like to provide appropriate Workers' Compensation Benefits to a claimant. Witnesses in Formal Hearings are sworn and testify and Evidence is introduced, resulting in a binding written Decision by the presiding Commissioner. Usually held in a Workers' Compensation Commission District Office, a Formal Hearing is the second level hearing available to adverse parties in a workers' compensation case and is scheduled when disputes cannot be resolved in any earlier Informal Hearing(s). There may be one or, more infrequently, two Formal Hearings in a workers' compensation case. Written Decisions from Formal Hearings may be appealed to the Compensation Review Board.