Split Court Says Injured Worker Can't Back Out of Settlement

A divided Ohio appellate court panel ruled Monday that an injured worker couldn't back out of his settlement with his self-insured employer, even though the Industrial Commission never signed off on the deal. When a self-insured employer reaches a settlement with an employee, Ohio Revised Code Section 4123.65 requires that the employer send a copy of the agreement to the Industrial Commission for review by a staff hearing officer. R.C. 4123.65(C) gives the SHO 30 days to review the terms of the agreement to see if it will result in a gross miscarriage of justice. The statute provide...