The parties to a contested case, or persons who are involved in a dispute which could culminate in a contested case may enter into a settlement of any claim arising under this chapter or chapter 85A, 85B or 86, providing for final disposition of the claim, provided that no final disposition affecting rights to future benefits may be had when the only dispute is the degree of disability resulting from an injury for which an award for payments or agreement for settlement under section 86.13 has been made. The settlement shall be in writing and submitted to the workers' compensation commissioner for approval. The settlement shall not be approved unless evidence of a bona fide dispute exists concerning any of the following:
1. The claimed injury arose out of or in the course of the employment.
2. The injured employee gave notice under section 85.23.
3. Whether or not the statutes of limitations as provided in section 85.26 have run. When the issue involved is whether or not the statute of limitations of section 85.26, subsection 2, has run, the final disposition shall pertain to the right to weekly compensation unless otherwise provided for in subsection 7 of this section.
4. The injury was caused by the employee's willful intent to injure the employee's self or to willfully injure another.
5. Intoxication, which did not arise out of and in the course of employment but which was due to the effects of alcohol or another narcotic, depressant, stimulant, hallucinogenic, or hypnotic drug not prescribed by an authorized medical practitioner, was a substantial factor in causing the employee's injury.
6. The injury was caused by the willful act of a third party directed against the employee for reasons personal to such employee.
7. This chapter or chapter 85A, 85B, 86 or 87 applies to the party making the claim.
8. A substantial portion of the claimed disability is related to physical or mental conditions other than those caused by the injury.
Approval by the workers' compensation commissioner shall be binding on the parties and shall not be construed as an original proceeding. Notwithstanding any provisions of this chapter and chapters 85A, 85B, 86 and 87, an approved settlement shall constitute a final bar to any further rights arising under this chapter and chapters 85A, 85B, 86 and 87. Such payment shall not be construed as the payment of weekly compensation.
[C75, 77, 79, 81, § 85.35]
83 Acts, ch 105, § 4; 89 Acts, ch 60, §2; 98 Acts, ch 1061, § 11
Previous Section 85.34
Next Section 85.36
© 2001 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa
Comments about this site or page?
webmaster@legis.iowa.gov.
Please remember that the person listed above does not vote on bills. Direct all comments concerning legislation to State Legislators.
Last update: Mon Jan 22 17:13:42 CST 2001
URL: /DOCS/IACODE/2001/85/35.html
jhf