Winter 2009
  Subscribe Now
  Send Us Your Feedback
  Interesting and Useful Websites

 

348 West Hospitality Lane, Suite 202
San Bernardino, CA 92408
909.890.1800
909.890.1801

3131 Camino Del Rio North, Suite 1610
San Diego, CA 92108
619.283.7011
619.283.7684

400 North Tustin Avenue, Suite 150
Santa Ana, CA 92705
714.541.6611
714.541.6703

 

  

Print Version

PARKER & IRWIN ENTERS
THE ERA OF EAMS E-FORM SUBMISSION

By Robert B. Hill and Thomas J. King

On September 22, 2008, Parker & Irwin, as an approved external user, completed the next phase in the implementation of the WCAB’s Electronic Adjudication Management System (EAMS) with electronic form submission (E-Form).

Additionally, as a member of the first group of the e-filing trial, the firm works very closely, in a collaborative relationship with the DWC. During this trial, both parties work diligently to find the “bugs,” look for ways to improve the system, and to work out any problems that may be present in the system. We continuously monitor the DWC website for tips, new regulations, new information as EAMS is very fluid and change can occur on a daily basis.

EAMS has been operational at the WCAB for the past several months, and by all accounts its progress has not been entirely smooth. Reports have indicated that several WCAB district offices are backlogged with several weeks (if not months) of documents to be scanned and routed to the administrative law judges for their review or posted to the appropriate computer file. This is due in part to staff layoffs brought on by state budget concerns as well as the additional document preparation required for scanning. Further, available forms within EAMS have not been functioning with data fields not allowing entries and some forms refusing to be saved and stored to the system. However, as each day passes, the “kinks” are being worked out.

In order to prepare for this transition to a paperless environment, to date, Parker & Irwin:

One of the best benefits, from our standpoint, is the electronic submission of the Declaration of Readiness to Proceed. This has allowed us immediate notice of available WCAB calendar dates followed by confirmation of our date selection. This has cut back dramatically the “lag time” between form submission and the issuance of the Notice of Hearing.

Currently there are two methods of forms submission to the WCAB:

Since Parker & Irwin is an approved e-form user, we can ONLY use e-forms and are precluded from using OCR forms and traditional paper forms (except where permitted). There are some situations which we encountered and users needs to be aware, such as:

Parker & Irwin will continue to keep current on all EAMS development and to keep our clients informed.

Print Version

Contact Parker & Irwin