Hearing Officers conduct hearings in person and online from one of the IC’s twelve office locations throughout the state. Collectively, Hearing Officers conduct over 87,000 hearings annually. All district and staff-level Hearing Officers are licensed attorneys. Each Hearing Officer independently manages their own caseload and is responsible for writing decisions for all hearings they conduct.
Under general supervision in assigned Regions/Districts, prepares for, conducts, & issues orders from administrative hearings on Workers’ Compensation claims:
• Hears claims on the issues of allowance, payment of compensation, payment of medical bills, determination of percentage of permanent partial disability, & any other contested claim matter except those over which the Industrial Commission (OIC) or its Staff Hearing Officers have original jurisdiction.
• Ensures all proceedings are conducted in a fair & legal manner.
• Performs legal research into difficult questions with regard to Workers’ Compensation; participates in depositions.
• Completes miscellaneous assignments made by the Regional Managers or any member of the OIC.
• Provides training to new Hearing Officers & Legal Interns.
• Conducts second level hearings in the absence of Staff Hearing Officers.
See the attached position description for more details regarding this position.
Our mission is to serve injured workers and Ohio employers through expeditious and impartial resolution of issues arising from workers' compensation claims and through the establishment of adjudication policy.