(a)  Upon the filing of any petition the court shall assign the matter to a judge. The court shall issue notice at that time, advising the parties of the judge to whom the case has been assigned and the date for pretrial conference in accordance with § 28-35-20.

medical exam

Ask a workers compensation law question, get an answer ASAP!
Thousands of highly rated, verified workers compensation lawyers.
Claims, medical treatment, disability payments, termination, and more.
Get help with workers' comp forms, benefits, or employers' responsibilities
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 28-35-17

  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
  • Pretrial conference: A meeting of the judge and lawyers to discuss which matters should be presented to the jury, to review evidence and witnesses, to set a timetable, and to discuss the settlement of the case.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.

(b)  Upon filing of any claim for a trial, following the pretrial conference held in accordance with § 28-35-20, the judge shall fix a time for trial and give notice of it in accordance with the rules of practice promulgated by the court but the initial hearing shall be fixed not later than thirty (30) days next after filing the claim for a trial. The court shall cause notice of the trial to be given to each interested party in accordance with the rules of practice promulgated by the court. The judge shall proceed to hear the matter as the justice of the case may require, and may allow amendments to the petition and the answer at any stage of the proceedings. Hearings may be adjourned from time to time for just and sufficient cause, and hearings may be held at the places that the workers’ compensation court shall designate.

History of Section.
G.L. 1938, ch. 300, art. 3, § 3, P.L. 1954, ch. 3297, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 28-35-17; P.L. 1982, ch. 32, art. 1, § 10; P.L. 1990, ch. 332, art. 1, § 5; P.L. 1992, ch. 31, § 13; P.L. 2014, ch. 78, § 6; P.L. 2014, ch. 87, § 6.