N.J. Admin. Code § 12:235-3.6

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 12:235-3.6 - Third-party joinder by respondent

(a) A respondent who alleges that another employer or insurance carrier may be liable for all or part of the benefits claimed by the petitioner may move to join such employer or insurance carrier as a responding party to the original claim petition by notice of motion which shall be supported by a definitive statement setting forth the factual and legal basis for the relief sought.

(b) A copy of the motion and supporting statement with a copy of the original claim petition shall be served upon the party sought to be joined and all other parties.

(c) It shall be the responsibility of the moving party to give notice of any hearing of the motion to the party sought to be impleaded.

(d) Such motion shall be granted only where the moving party has satisfied the Judge of Compensation that there exists a substantial likelihood that the party to be joined is or may be liable for compensation benefits to the petitioner.

(e) If the order sought is granted, the order shall be served upon the party joined forthwith who shall file an answer within 30 days of the date of service of the order.

(f) In cases where it appears that the only issue involved is which carrier or employer is liable to the petitioner for the benefits sought, the Judge of Compensation may order the moving party to pay the benefits in whole or in part as a condition of joinder subject to an order for reimbursement, if another party is held to be liable for such benefits.

(g) If a respondent knowingly files an incomplete, inaccurate or frivolous motion for third party joinder, such circumstances may be considered in the apportionment of any counsel fee awarded, in addition to a counsel fee not to exceed $ 200.00 to each opposing counsel of each party sought to be joined.

N.J. Admin. Code § 12:235-3.6

Amended by R.1991 d.466, effective 9/3/1991.
See: 23 N.J.R. 1759(a), 23 N.J.R. 2642(a).
Standard of substantial likelihood deleted at (c); discretionary assessment allowed at (f).
Amended by R.1997 d.110, effective 3/3/1997.
See: 28 N.J.R. 4067(a), 29 N.J.R. 799(a).
Added (c) and recodified former (c) through (f) as (d) through (g).
Recodified from N.J.A.C. 12:235-3.4 by R.2009 d.299, effective 10/5/2009.
See: 41 N.J.R. 1935(a), 41 N.J.R. 3807(a).
Former N.J.A.C. 12:235-3.6, Discovery, recodified to N.J.A.C. 12:235-3.8.