97-17. Settlements allowed in accordance with Article.
(a) This article does not prevent settlements made by and between the employee and employer so long as the amount of compensation and the time and manner of payment are in accordance with the provisions of this Article. A copy of a settlement agreement shall be filed by the employer with and approved by the Commission. No party to any agreement for compensation approved by the Commission shall deny the truth of the matters contained in the settlement agreement, unless the party is able to show to the satisfaction of the Commission that there has been error due to fraud, misrepresentation, undue influence or mutual mistake, in which event the Commission may set aside the agreement. Except as provided in this subsection, the decision of the Commission to approve a settlement agreement is final and is not subject to review or collateral attack.
(b) The Commission shall not approve a settlement agreement under this section, unless all of the following conditions are satisfied:
(1) The settlement agreement is deemed by the Commission to be fair and just, and that the interests of all of the parties and of any person, including a health benefit plan that paid medical expenses of the employee have been considered.
(2) The settlement agreement contains a list of all of the known medical expenses of the employee related to the injury to the date of the settlement agreement, including medical expenses that the employer or carrier disputes, and a list of medical expenses, if any, that will be paid by the employer under the settlement agreement.
(3) The settlement agreement contains a finding that the positions of all of the parties to the agreement are reasonable as to the payment of medical expenses.
(c) In determining whether the positions of all of the parties to the agreement are reasonable as to the payment of medical expenses under subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of this section, the Commission shall consider all of the following:
(1) Whether the employer admitted or reasonably denied the employee's claim for compensation.
(2) The amount of all of the known medical expenses of the employee related to the injury to the date of the settlement agreement, including medical expenses that the employer or carrier disputes.
(3) The need for finality in the litigation.
(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the application of G.S. 44-49 and G.S. 44-50 to funds in compensation for settlement under this section.
(e) Nothing in this section prevents the parties from reaching a separate contemporaneous agreement resolving issues not covered by this Article. (1929, c. 120, s. 18; 1963, c. 436; 2001-216, s. 2; 2001-487, s. 102(b); 2005-448, s. 3; 2011-287, s. 4.)
Structure North Carolina General Statutes
North Carolina General Statutes
Chapter 97 - Workers' Compensation Act
Article 1 - Workers' Compensation Act.
§ 97-1.1 - References to workmen's compensation.
§ 97-3 - Presumption that all employers and employees have come under provisions of Article.
§ 97-5 - Presumption as to contract of service.
§ 97-5.1 - Presumption that taxicab drivers are independent contractors.
§ 97-6 - No special contract can relieve an employer of obligations.
§ 97-7 - State or subdivision and employees thereof.
§ 97-8 - Prior injuries and deaths unaffected.
§ 97-9 - Employer to secure payment of compensation.
§ 97-10.1 - Other rights and remedies against employer excluded.
§ 97-10.3 - Minors illegally employed.
§ 97-11 - Employer not relieved of statutory duty.
§ 97-12.1 - Willful misrepresentation in applying for employment.
§ 97-13 - Exceptions from provisions of Article[Effective until January 1, 2023]
§ 97-17 - Settlements allowed in accordance with Article.
§ 97-18.1 - Termination or suspension of compensation benefits.
§ 97-20 - Priority of compensation claims against assets of employer.
§ 97-22 - Notice of accident to employer.
§ 97-24 - Right to compensation barred after two years; destruction of records.
§ 97-25 - Medical treatment and supplies.
§ 97-25.1 - Limitation of duration of medical compensation.
§ 97-25.2 - Managed care organizations.
§ 97-25.4 - Utilization guidelines for medical treatment.
§ 97-25.5 - Utilization guidelines for vocational and other rehabilitation.
§ 97-25.6 - Reasonable access to medical information.
§ 97-26 - Fees allowed for medical treatment; malpractice of physician.
§ 97-28 - Seven-day waiting period; exceptions.
§ 97-29 - Rates and duration of compensation for total incapacity.
§ 97-31 - Schedule of injuries; rate and period of compensation.
§ 97-31.1 - Effective date of legislative changes in benefits.
§ 97-32 - Refusal of injured employee to accept suitable employment as suspending compensation.
§ 97-32.1 - Trial return to work.
§ 97-32.2 - Vocational rehabilitation.
§ 97-33 - Prorating in event of earlier disability or injury.
§ 97-34 - Employee receiving an injury when being compensated for former injury.
§ 97-35 - How compensation paid for two injuries; employer liable only for subsequent injury.
§ 97-36 - Accidents taking place outside State; employees receiving compensation from another state.
§ 97-37 - Where injured employee dies before total compensation is paid.
§ 97-40.1 - Second Injury Fund.
§ 97-42 - Deduction of payments.
§ 97-42.1 - Credit for unemployment benefits.
§ 97-43 - Commission may prescribe monthly or quarterly payments.
§ 97-45 - Reducing to judgment outstanding liability of insurance carriers withdrawing from State.
§ 97-46 - Lump sum payments to trustee; receipt to discharge employer.
§ 97-47 - Change of condition; modification of award.
§ 97-47.1 - Payment without prejudice; limitations period.
§ 97-50 - Limitation as against minors or mentally incompetent.
§ 97-51 - Joint employment; liabilities.
§ 97-52 - Occupational disease made compensable; "accident" defined.
§ 97-54 - "Disablement" defined.
§ 97-55 - "Disability" defined.
§ 97-56 - Limitation on compensable diseases.
§ 97-58 - Time limit for filing claims.
§ 97-59 - Employer to pay for treatment.
§ 97-61 - Rewritten as §§ .1 to .7.
§ 97-61.1 - First examination of and report on employee having asbestosis or silicosis.
§ 97-61.2 - Filing of first report; right of hearing; effect of report as testimony.
§ 97-61.3 - Second examination and report.
§ 97-61.4 - Third examination and report.
§ 97-61.7 - Waiver of right to compensation as alternative to forced change of occupation.
§ 97-62 - "Silicosis" and "asbestosis" defined.
§ 97-63 - Period necessary for employee to be exposed.
§ 97-64 - General provisions of act to control as regards benefits.
§ 97-65 - Reduction of rate where tuberculosis develops.
§ 97-66 - Claim where benefits are discontinued.
§ 97-67 - Postmortem examinations; notice to next of kin and insurance carrier.
§ 97-68 - Controverted medical questions.
§ 97-69 - Examination by advisory medical committee; inspection of medical reports.
§ 97-70 - Report of committee to Industrial Commission.
§ 97-71 - Filing report; right of hearing on report.
§ 97-78.1 - Standards of judicial conduct to apply to commissioners and deputy commissioners.
§ 97-83 - Commission is to make award after hearing.
§ 97-83.1 - Facilities for hearings; security.
§ 97-84 - Determination of disputes by Commission or deputy.
§ 97-86 - Award conclusive as to facts; appeal; certified questions of law.
§ 97-86.1 - Payment of award pending appeal in certain cases.
§ 97-86.2 - Interest on awards after hearing.
§ 97-87 - Judgments on awards.
§ 97-88 - Expenses of appeals brought by insurers.
§ 97-88.1 - Attorney's fees at original hearing.
§ 97-88.2 - Penalty for fraud.
§ 97-88.3 - Penalty for health care providers.
§ 97-89 - Commission may appoint qualified physician to make necessary examinations; expenses; fees.
§ 97-91 - Commission to determine all questions.
§ 97-95 - Actions against employers failing to effect insurance or qualify as self-insurer.
§ 97-97 - Insurance policies must contain clause that notice to employer is notice to insurer, etc.