4123-14-04 Procedures to recover from a noncomplying employer the amount of money paid out of the state insurance fund for an industrial injury, occupational disease and/or death.

(A) Upon the filing of an industrial claim, naming a noncomplying employer as the employer, and as soon as the claim has been numbered and recorded by the bureau of workers’ compensation, the bureau shall prepare and, by certified mail, file for record in the office of the county recorder in the counties where the employer’s property is located, if known, or in the county (or counties) where the employer’s business is located, an affidavit showing the date on which the application for compensation and/or benefits was filed, the name and address of the employer against whom it was filed, and the fact that said employer has not complied with section 4123.35 of the Revised Code. A copy of the application for compensation and/or benefits shall be filed with the affidavit. The affidavit shall constitute a lien on employer’s real property and tangible personal property within the county where it was filed.

(B) The bureau shall notify the employer, within the shortest time possible, of the filing of the application, which notice shall be mailed by certified mail. Such notice shall be accompanied by a copy of the application and a copy of the affidavit, as described in paragraph (A) of this rule, and shall advise the employer that unless it files a timely answer to the application, as required by rules 4121-03-14 and 4123-03-14 of the Administrative Code, the claim shall be adjudicated upon the application that has been filed.

(C) The lien on employer’s property, as described in paragraph (A) of this rule, shall be cancelled under the following circumstances:

(1) The employer has paid the amount of all awards made by the commission and/or the bureau;

(2) There was a final order of disallowance of claim(s);

(3) The employer has filed a bond or other security in such an amount and with such a surety as the bureau approves, conditioned on the employer’s payment of all awards made by the commission and/or the bureau. The bureau may, in its discretion, grant a partial release of the lien, should this be necessary to facilitate the conduct of the employer’s business, provided a sufficient security remains to pay any award that may be made in the claim or claims.

(4) Settlement of employer’s liability as provided in rule 4123-14-05 of the Administrative Code.

(D) In all cases of employer’s failure to pay the award(s) of compensation and/or benefits, as approved by the commission and/or the bureau, or to furnish a satisfactory bond within ten days after notification of such award(s), payment of the award(s) from the surplus fund and the recovery of the monies so paid by the bureau shall be in accordance with section 4123.75 of the Revised Code.

(E) The award(s) of compensation and/or benefits, referred to in paragraph (D) of this rule, shall constitute a liquidated claim for damages against the noncomplying employer. The bureau shall certify the record to the attorney general to institute a civil action against the employer for collection of the award(s). Such action may be joined with the action to recover premium(s) due from such employer.

Replaces: 4121-14-04

R.C. 119.032 review dates: 07/08/2004 and 03/01/2007

Promulgated Under: 119.03

Statutory Authority: 4121.12, 4121.121, 4121.30

Rule Amplifies: 4123.50, 4123.75, 4123.76

Prior Effective Dates: 11/26/79, 12/18/89 (Emer.), 2/22/90