Coombs v. State Accident Insurance Fund

In this workers’ compensation case claimant appeals an order of the Workers’ Compensation Board affirming the Board’s exercise of its own motion jurisdiction to close claimant’s compensation claim. The issue is whether the claim closure is properly an exercise of the Board’s own motion jurisdiction depriving claimant of a right of appeal.

Claimant sustained a compensable injury to his leg on July 17, 1967, and his claim was accepted by the State Accident Insurance Fund (Fund). The Closing and Evaluation Division closed the claim on May 11, 1970, pursuant to ORS 656.268(3). In February, 1971,…