Beginning in 1994, statutory alterations obligated the board to render its opinion within 60 days of the filing of the last brief. The cases are randomly assigned to each board member to be the primary author of that opinion. In each opinion, unless it is necessary for a board member to recuse himself from the case, all three will participate in the decision.

From 1994 to present, approximately 65 percent to 72 percent of the decisions rendered by the Workers’ Compensation Board were appealed no further. In the years in which a higher percentage of appeals occur, it generally follows that many of these cases are addressing new law changes.

The Workers' Compensation Board consists of three Board Members, including the Chairman, who are appointed for four-year terms.

Board members are:

Michael W. Alvey, Chairman

• Theresa Absher, Secretary
  
• Kerri Ripperger, Staff Attorney

Scott M. Miller

• Vicky Carella, Secretary​​
  
• ​Jazmin Smith, Staff Attorney

Franklin A. Stivers

• Tiffanie Martin, Secretary
  
• Silvana Minella, Staff Attorney

Appeals Section

The final awards, orders, and decisions from the Administrative Law Judges that are challenged must pass through this Section to verify timeliness of filings, completeness of records, indexing, scheduling and ensuring compliance with the Administrative Regulations - all in preparation for the Workers' Compensation Board's review and judgment. Motions are tracked daily and a Docket prepared weekly. In the event the decision of the Workers' Compensation Board is contested, Section staff shall, upon request, ready and certify the files for review by the Court of Appeals and, in some cases, the Supreme Court.

The Appeals Section processed 273 appeals to the Workers' Compensation Board this fiscal year. There were 96 Appeals sent to the Court of Appeals with 30 records being requested and sent to Court. There were 28 appeals to the Supreme Court this Fiscal Year.

For further information or questions, please contact:

Appeals FAQ