{"id":"alj-H500882-2025-07-16","awcc_number":"H500882","decision_date":"2025-07-16","opinion_type":"alj","claimant_name":"Christopher Wood","employer_name":"South Side School District","title":"WOOD VS. SOUTH SIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT AWCC# H500882 July 16, 2025","outcome":"dismissed","outcome_keywords":["dismissed:10","denied:2"],"injury_keywords":["hernia"],"pdf_url":"https://www.labor.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/WOOD_CHRISTOPHER_H500882_20250716.pdf","source_index_url":"https://labor.arkansas.gov/workers-comp/awcc-opinions/administrative-law-judge-opinions/","filename":"WOOD_CHRISTOPHER_H500882_20250716.pdf","text_length":2942,"full_text":"BEFORE THE ARKANSAS WORKERS’ COMPENSATION COMMISSION \nCLAIM NO. H500882 \nCHRISTOPHER WOOD, EMPLOYEE      CLAIMANT \n \nSOUTH SIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT, \nEMPLOYER                                                                                            RESPONDENT \n \nARKANSAS SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOC. WCT, \nCARRIER/TPA                       RESPONDENT \n \nOPINION AND ORDER FILED JULY 16, 2025 \nThe Hearing before Administrative Law Judge James D. Kennedy in Little Rock, \nArkansas, was held on July 8, 2025. \nClaimant was pro-se and failed to appear. \nRespondents were represented by Melissa Wood, of Little Rock, Arkansas. \n \nSTATEMENT OF THE CASE \n A hearing was held in the above styled matter on the 8th day of July, 2025, in Little \nRock, Arkansas, on Respondent’s Motion to Dismiss for failure to prosecute, contending \nthat the claim had been denied in its entirety and the claimant had indicated by email that \nhe wanted to have his claim dismissed.  Further, the respondents contended that upon \napplication by either party for a dismissal for failure to prosecute, the Commission may, \nafter reasonable notice to all parties, enter an order dismissing the claim.   \n On January 31, 2025, the claimant claimed that he had sustained a hernia, and on \nMarch 20, 2025, requested a “review” of his Workers’ Compensation Claim, stating that \nhis claim was denied by a letter, dated February 10, 2025. This request for a review was \ntreated  as  a  request  for  a  hearing.  The  claimant  participated  in  discovery  and  a \nPrehearing Order was filed on June 11, 2025, setting the matter for a hearing on August \n12, 2025, in Little Rock, Arkansas. An email was then received from the claimant on June \n\nChristopher Wood – H500882 \n2 \n \n26,  2025, which  stated that  he  did  not  wish  to  pursue  his  claim  and  that  he  wished  to \nclose it and it be dismissed. A Motion to Dismiss was filed on June 26, 2025.  No response \nwas filed by the Claimant in regard to the Motion to Dismiss so appropriate notice of a \nMotion to Dismiss hearing was provided to all the parties setting the hearing for July 8, \n2025, at 12:00 p.m., in Little Rock, Arkansas.   \n A  hearing  was  held  on July  3, 2025, and  the  claimant failed  to  appear.  The \nRespondents  were  represented  by Melissa  Wood,  who  requested  that  the  matter  be \ndismissed for want of prosecution, and that the Commission may, upon reasonable notice \nto all parties, enter an order dismissing the claim for want of prosecution. \nORDER \n Pursuant to the above statement of the case, documents entered into the record, \nand statements by the Attorney for the Respondents, there is no alternative but to grant \nthe Motion to Dismiss without prejudice pursuant to Rule 099.13 of the Arkansas Workers’ \nCompensation Commission.   \nIT IS SO ORDERED. \n                \n      ____________________________ \n                JAMES D. KENNEDY \n               ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE","preview":"BEFORE THE ARKANSAS WORKERS’ COMPENSATION COMMISSION CLAIM NO. H500882 CHRISTOPHER WOOD, EMPLOYEE CLAIMANT SOUTH SIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT, EMPLOYER RESPONDENT ARKANSAS SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOC. WCT, CARRIER/TPA RESPONDENT OPINION AND ORDER FILED JULY 16, 2025 The Hearing before Administrative Law Judge James D. Kennedy in Littl...","fetched_at":"2026-05-19T22:38:37.938Z","links":{"html":"/opinions/alj-H500882-2025-07-16","pdf":"https://www.labor.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/WOOD_CHRISTOPHER_H500882_20250716.pdf","source_publisher":"https://labor.arkansas.gov/workers-comp/awcc-opinions/administrative-law-judge-opinions/"}}