Judge Wasn't Authorized to Order Refund

A workers' compensation judge lacks authority to order a claimant or counsel to repay a portion of an overpayment, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court has ruled. Brown v. Workers' Compensation Appeal Board, No. 20 C.D. 2006 (7/25/06) decided a petition for review filed by Bernadette Brown. A trial court had ordered her to repay an overpayment of $8,944 and her counsel to repay an overpayment of $2,236. She was receiving benefits for a slip-and-fall accident on a wet floor in the course and scope of her employment on May 22, 2001. She tried to return to work on June 11-12, but was unable to...