Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 40 - LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
Part I - Workers' Compensation Administration
Subpart 3 - Hearing Rules
Chapter 55 - General Provisions
Subchapter A - Definitions
Section I-5501 - Purpose; Definitions

A. The purpose of these rules is to govern the practice and procedures before the Workers' Compensation Court which is a statewide court having jurisdiction of claims for workers' compensation benefits, the controversion of entitlement to benefits and other relief under the Workers' Compensation Act. These rules are designed to facilitate the equitable, expeditious and simple resolution of workers' compensation disputed claims filed with the Court.

B. As used in these rules, unless otherwise indicated the following words shall have the following meanings.

Claimant-shall refer to the injured employee.

Court-the Office of Workers' Compensation court within the Office of Workers' Compensation Administration of the Louisiana Department of Labor.

Director-the director of the Office of Workers' Compensation Administration of the Louisiana Department of Labor.

Judge-a workers' compensation judge.

Judicial District-as referred to in R.S. 1310.4, any of the 10 locations of a workers' compensation district office, i.e. Shreveport, Monroe, Alexandria, Lake Charles, Lafayette, Baton Rouge, Covington, New Orleans, Harahan, Houma, and the parishes each encompass.

Mediator-a workers' compensation mediator.

Office-the Office of Workers' Compensation Administration of the Louisiana Department of Labor.

Petitioner-shall, as the context requires, mean the employer, the insurance carrier, the group self-insurance fund, the health care provider, claimant, or a dependant of a claimant.