Illinois Starts Arbitration Calls by Phone; Maryland Moves to Video Conferencing

Amid concerns that a slowdown in arbitration proceedings and hearings is causing a backlog, the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission announced that arbitration calls for May can be done via telephone. The commission early this month halted operations and most adjudication proceedings because of the coronavirus outbreak and because of what it called a “lack of technological resources.” Some oral arguments have been allowed via phone when both sides agree. But except for a few emergency arbitrations, most proceedings have been put on hold, attorneys have said. Allowing mor...