At the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission meeting today, the Commissioners approved the new hearing and informal conference cost assessments for Fiscal Year 2013, which runs from July 2012 through June 2013. South Carolina Code Regulations 67-614 and 67-804(H) give Commissioners the authority to issue cost assessments in certain situations.
If a Commissioner determines a hearing has been brought, prosecuted or defended on unreasonable grounds, the Commissioner may issue an order for the actual cost of the hearing, which is $1,123.49 for FY 2013. That’s an increase of $108.63 from last year. A party assessed for hearing costs has the right to appeal such order just as they would in other case.
The cost of the informal conference also increased. If an employer’s representative or an attorney fails to appear for an informal conference, the Commissioner may issue an order for the cost of the informal conference, which is $389.63 for FY 2013 – an increase of $30.51.
