Glossary Check: ‘Claim,’ ‘Petition,’ ‘Reply’ in Alaska

Juneau, AK (WorkersCompensation.com) -- As in other states, in Alaska, to get the ball rolling on a workers' compensation case, an injured worker may start a proceeding before the board by filing a written claim or petition.

So, what do those terms mean? Here's how Alaska state law defines them.

Claim

A claim is a written request for benefits, including:

--> Compensation.
--> Attorney fees.
--> Costs.
--> Interest.
--> Reemployment or rehabilitation benefits.
--> Rehabilitation specialist or provider fees.
--> Medical benefits.

The claim may be filed on a form provided by the board. An application is a written claim.

A separate claim must be filed for each injury for which benefits are claimed regardless of whether the employer is the same in each case. If a single incident injures two or more employees, regardless of whether the employers are the same, two or more cases may be consolidated for the purpose of taking evidence. A party may ask for consolidation by filing a petition for and asking in writing for a prehearing, or a designee may raise the issue at a prehearing. To consolidate cases at the prehearing the designee must:

(1) Determine the injuries or issues in the cases are similar or closely related.
(2) Determine that hearing both cases together would provide a speedier remedy.
(3) State on the prehearing summary that the cases are consolidated, and state which case number is the master case number.

Petition

A petition is a written request for action by the board other. The petition may be filed on a form provided by the board.

Except for a petition for a self-insurance certificate or an executive officer waiver, a petition must be signed by the petitioner or the petitioner's representative and include:

(1) The names and addresses of all parties.
(2) The date of injury.
(3) A description of the general nature of the dispute between the parties.
(4) Proof of service of the petition upon all parties.

The board or its designee will return an incomplete petition to the petitioner.

A petition that alleges that a disability has ended or an impairment has become permanent must include:

(1) The dates for which compensation was paid.
(2) The amount of compensation paid to the employee.
(3) The date on which the petitioner claims the disability ended or the impairment became permanent.
(4) A completed medical summary on Form 07-6103.

Reply

A reply is a response to an answer. No party is required to file a reply. A party who chooses to file a reply must file the reply not later than seven days after the answer was served upon the parties.

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