Pro Se Settlement Procedure From Chairman Weisz

From Chairman Weisz:

I understand that as a matter of accommodation, settlement contracts on pro se matters are routinely approved by Arbitrators before being assigned a case number. Our research indicates this happened over 3,500 times in Calendar Year 2010.

The Commission is extremely sensitive to the needs and desires of injured employees and businesses to get files approved and closed quickly; however, the present system does not allow us with a way to determine if any of those contracts go astray and fail to get entered into the system.

Consequently, all Arbitrators are hereby instructed that as of March 1, 2011, no settlement contracts are to be approved until the matter has been assigned a case number and setting. The case number and setting must be entered on the face on the contract.

Downstate parties will need to mail 3 copies of the proposed contract to the Chicago Docket Unit with a self-addressed, stamped envelope. The Chicago Docket staff will enter the case number and setting, and return 1 copy to the sending party. Parties will need to make at least 3 more copies before presenting the contract to the arbitrator.

Inasmuch as this will increase the time it takes to get an approved contract, we respectfully ask Respondent attorneys to note this change and make sure they obtain case numbers and settings so that they can pursue approval of the pro se matters at the next available settings.

Equally, Arbitrators are encouraged that when contracts are complete that they provide opportunities for pro se matters to be properly presented without unnecessary delay.

The cooperation of all parties is greatly appreciated as we work to find ways to improve the consistency and reliability of our record keeping, which is critical to maintaining the integrity of our system.

Mitch Weisz, Chairman