OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahomans who have cases before the state’s Workers Compensation Commission will have to wait to have their cases heard.
At least for a while.
Officials with the commission announced they would strike all dockets in Oklahoma City and Tulsa for the week of March 16 through March 20. Commission officials said their administrative offices would close for two days, Monday, March 16 and Tuesday, March 17.
“Commission dockets will be reset, and case filing deadlines will be extended once Commission administrative hearing operations are reestablished. Employees of the WCC shall remain at home on paid administrative leave during these two days,” a media statement from the WCC said.
The statement said ECC employees should remain at home on administrative leave for the two-day closure. The change comes as Oklahoma’s government struggles to deal with the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
In addition to the changes in the WCC’s docket, the presiding judge of Oklahoma County’s district court said Monday that jury trials scheduled in Oklahoma county have been cancelled because of worries about the coronavirus.
Oklahoma County District Judge Ray C. Elliott issued an administrative order announcing that he had cancelled trials scheduled for the weeks of March 23 and April 6. Elliott said the cancellations were in response to the emergency declaration recently issued by Gov. Kevin Stitt. So far, the number of confirmed cases in Oklahoma stands at eight, including cases in Ponca City and the Oklahoma City area. On Sunday, Stitt declared a state of emergency and urged residents to stay at home. Along with sporting and entertainment closures, many colleges have announced they would shift to on-line classes following this week’s spring break.