Geiger-Ricketts Dev. Co. v. Alsman

NIMMONS, Judge.

The employer and carrier appeal an order of the deputy commissioner awarding claimant remedial and palliative care on the stated grounds that “[n]either the Employer or (sic) the Carrier nor their representative appeared for the hearing ...” We reverse.

This case presents the issue of whether a deputy commissioner is empowered, because of the employer/carrier’s failure to appear at a compensation hearing, to enter a “default judgment” awarding benefits to claimant where no evidence is presented. Claimant was allegedly injured in a com-pensable accident and was treated in an…