DBA Newsletter
Barnett, Lerner & Karsen, P.A.
www.injuredoverseas.com
(954) 920-7400
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WELCOME TO THE DBA NEWSLETTER, PREPARED BY BARNETT, LERNER & KARSEN, P.A.
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ALL OF US AT BARNETT, LERNER & KARSEN WISH YOU A HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON
AND A GREAT NEW YEAR!
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With the end of the year upon us, we want to thank all of our clients for allowing us the privilege to represent you for your legal needs. We remain committed to providing the best legal services possible, and appreciate your understanding and assistance as we navigated a difficult year.
The federal government’s sequester and shutdown in 2013 presented challenging hurdles for everyone. The U.S. Department of Labor continues its efforts to secure adequate funding from Congress, and to streamline the administrative process for Longshore and Defense Base Act claims.
Effective December 2, 2013, the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs mandated a new initiative designed to shift the administrative process of DBA claims to a paperless system. All new Defense Base Act claims WITHOUT AN OWCP NUMBER must be filed in the New York District Office. The New York District Office will then create a case and assign an OWCP case number to it. Injured workers who complete their own LS-203 forms (Employee’s Claim for Compensation), and do not have, or do not know, their case’s OWCP number should send the form to the following address:
District Director
U.S. Department of Labor
Longshore District Office #2
OWCP/DLHWC
201 Varick Street, Room 740
P.O. Box 249
New York, NY 10014-0249
Once a case is assigned an OWCP number, ALL correspondence and future forms MUST be mailed to the Jacksonville District Office. The Jacksonville District Office acts as the central mail receipt site for all DBA claims with an OWCP number, and will scan the correspondence and forms into a database to be used by the Department of Labor claims examiner assigned to your case. Anything mailed to the Jacksonville District Office MUST HAVE THE OWCP NUMBER ON EACH PAGE OF THE CORRESPONDENCE, INCLUDING ENCLOSURES. This will ensure everything sent in will be scanned into the correct file. The address for the Jacksonville District Office is:
District Director
U.S. Department of Labor
Longshore District Office #6
OWCP/DLHWC
400 West Bay Street, Ste. 63A, Box 28
Jacksonville, FL 32202
Even after your case is assigned to a different District Office, all correspondence will be sent to the Jacksonville District Office for scanning. That is why it is imperative every page of every document sent to the Jacksonville District Office have your case’s OWCP number on it.
As you can imagine, this is a monumental undertaking by the U.S. Department of Labor. There are thousands of existing Longshore and DBA claims, with hundreds of new claims opened each month. We can all expect some delays while the New York and Jacksonville District Offices adjust to their new roles, and develop the most efficient method of processing, scanning, and electronically filing all the paperwork received each day. Since the twelve District Offices approve settlements, serve Orders, hold Informal Conferences, issue Recommendations, and refer cases to the Office of Administrative Law Judges for trial, the new procedures will most likely result in a bureaucratic slow-down for the near future.
Naturally, our office will remain closely involved in your case, and we will keep you informed as new information becomes available. You can always contact our office if you have any questions.
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Barnett, Lerner & Karsen, P.A.
2860 Marina Mile Blvd., Suite 105
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33312
(954) 920-7400
(954) 920-9492 facsimile
(888) 732-7425 U.S. Toll Free
www.injuredoverseas.com