Expedited Lump Sum Hearings
In an effort to continue to streamline our dispute resolution procedures, the New Mexico
Workers’ Compensation Administration will designate an on-call pro tempore judge every
Tuesday morning for the purposes of hearing only stipulated NMSA § 52-5-12 lump sum
hearings. Hearings will not be held during the holiday weeks of Thanksgiving, Christmas, New
Year’s or during the annual settlement week.
The process is strictly voluntary. The hearings will be held on a first come, first serve, walk-in
basis. The WCA will not accept calls to schedule appointments for Lump Sum Tuesday and
there will not be a sign up sheet. Video hearings will not be conducted. Telephonic hearings –
where all parties appear by telephone – will not be conducted.
In order to qualify for this process, the parties must have fulfilled the following requirements
before their petition will be heard by the judge pro tempore:
1. A signed Joint Petition for NMSA § 52-5-12 Lump Sum Payment has been filed with the
WCA Clerk of the Court;
2. The WCA Clerk of the Clerk has reviewed the petition and proposed order and certified
that no liens are on file with the WCA;
3. The parties have agreed on and signed a proposed Order approving the § 52-5-12 Lump
Sum Payment that will be presented to the judge at the time of hearing; and
4. The parties have completed and filed the attached Joint Request for Expedited Section
52-5-12 Hearing certifying that all of the above requirements have been met.
Parties should be aware that failure to follow the outlined process will result in their petition not
being presented to the judge pro tempore. We hope that this process will reduce the delays in
approving lump sums.
Any questions can be directed to Dana Chavez at 505-841-6810.
STATE OF NEW MEXICO
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION ADMINISTRATION
_________________________________,
Worker,
v.
WCA No. ________________
__________________________________,
Employer/Insurer,
JOINT REQUEST FOR EXPEDITED SECTION 52-5-12 HEARING
The parties have entered an agreement for a lump sum payment under NMSA § 52-5-12
and agree as follows:
1. That they request an expedited hearing with a pro tempore judge;
2. That the signed Petition for NMSA § 52-5-12 Lump Sum Payment has been filed with
the WCA Clerk of the Court;
3. The Petition is a stipulated, joint Petition seeking approval of a Lump Sum Payment
under § 52-5-12;
4. That the Petition was reviewed by the WCA clerk of the court for liens; and
5. That a signed proposed Order approving the § 52-5-12 Lump Sum Payment will be
submitted at the hearing.
________________________
Worker
________________________
Employer/Insurer