There have been a number of developments in the Division of Workers’ Compensation in 2015 of which practitioners should be aware:
Retirement of Director Peter J. Calderone,
After 13 years of service as Director of the Division of Workers’ Compensation and 39 years of service to the State of New Jersey, Chief Judge and Director Peter J. Calderone announced this week that he will be retiring effective February 28, 2015. Director Calderone raised the level of professionalism within the Division and modernized the New Jersey workers’ compensation practice, with e-filing of pleadings, court listings and communications from counsel to the courts. He led the creation of an extensive case management system and developed a first class Division website providing a wide range of valuable information to practitioners and the public. During his tenure, rules for discovery on urgent motions for medical and temporary disability benefits were established, and new administrative rules were adopted for medical reimbursement petitions, thousands of which are now handled in the Division.
The new Director of the Division of Workers’ Compensation will be the Honorable Russell Wojtenko, Jr., Supervising Judge of New Brunswick vicinage. Judge Wojtenko resides in Mercer County and currently sits in New Brunswick. He has earned a reputation in the bar as hard working and fair to all parties.
Three New Workers’ Compensation Judges
The Governor has nominated three experienced practitioners as workers’ compensation judges: Michael J. Dillon, Esq., Thomas J. Ludlum, Esq. and John C. Gavejian, Esq., all from Bergen County.
2015 Rate Charts Are Available
For clients who are interested in receiving 2015 rate charts, please email the undersigned or Carol Wright at cwright@capehart.com. The maximum rate for temporary disability benefits and total permanent disability benefits is $855 per week, up from $843 per week in 2014. That amounts to approximately a 1.5% increase over last year.
The minimum rate is now $228 per week. The current state average weekly wage on which the rates are based is $1,140.02 per week. In 2005 the maximum rate was $666 per week and the minimum rate was $168. In 1995 the maximum rate was $469 and the minimum rate $125. In the past 20 years the maximum and minimum rates have increased 82%.
