On August 14, 2020 the Alabama Supreme Court issued Administrative Order No. 8 which extended its previous orders concerning workers’ compensation and
taking witness testimony remotely during the pandemic.  This means that the following rules will be in effect through December 31, 2020:

 

  1. Any workers’ compensation settlement hearing in any court may be conducted telephonically or by videoconferencing.
  2. Any workers’ compensation settlement may be approved by an ombudsman of the Alabama Department of Labor (ADOL) or by a circuit judge. If a workers’ compensation case pending in a court is settled with written approval of an ombudsman from the ADOL, that
    settlement shall result in the dismissal of the workers’ compensation claim pending in court.

 

In addition to the above, the rules that provide for remotely swearing in and taking witness testimony are also extended through the end of the year.