Settling workers' compensation claims is often a method used
to resolve difficult cases or those cases where high benefit
exposure exists. The parties typically rely on standard and
boilerplate settlement documents which have been previously
approved by the court. The Appellate Division of the Rhode Island
Supreme Court recently considered the use of such boilerplate
language, and its decision on the use of certain standard language
should cause all parties to consider and review their existing
settlement documents more closely.
In Claudia Zanni v. Rhode Island School of Design, R.I.
App. Div. 2014-4060, the Appellate Division of the Workers'
Compensation Court considered an employee's claim for scarring
and loss of use to her right hip following the settlement of her
claim for left hip, right knee, and right elbow claims. The
employee settled her claims in a petition granted before the
Workers' Compensation Court. The petition included standard
settlement documents,
