The Tennessee Legislature last year passed Workers’ Compensation legislation that created a new administrative Workers’ Compensation Court within the Workers’ Compensation Division.
Workers’ Compensation Division Administrator Abbie Hudgens has appointed Thomas Wyatt, a partner with Summers & Wyatt in Chattanooga, as a judge in the court.
“Workers’ Comp reform will result in a system that’s fair to both employees and employers, and will speed up the settlement of injury claims,” said Labor Commissioner Burns Phillips.
“This should result in more predictable outcomes.” Hudgens selected eight judges based on recommendations from the Workers’ Compensation Interview Committee, which was comprised of representatives of employees, employers, and the legal community from all three grand divisions of the state. The new judges will begin work prior to July 1, when the new law goes into effect.