BEFORE THE ARKANSAS WORKERS’ COMPENSATION COMMISSION CLAIM NO. H308044 HOWARD HARRISON, EMPLOYEE CLAIMANT NORTHSIDE ELEMENTARY, EMPLOYER RESPONDENT ARKANSAS SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION/INSURANCE CARRIER RESPONDENT OPINION/ORDER FILED MARCH 17, 2026 Hearing before ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE JOSEPH C. SELF, in Springdale, Washington County, Arkansas. Claimant is pro se and did not attend the hearing. Respondents are represented by MELISSA WOOD, Attorney, Little Rock, Arkansas OPINION/ORDER On August 1, 2025, claimant sent a letter to the Commission, requesting a hearing without filing a Form AR-C. The alleged date of injury is September 29, 2023. Claimant was not represented by an attorney when he requested the hearing and remains pro se. He was directed twice to file a prehearing questionnaire (August 27, 2025, and September 30, 2025) and failed to do so. On October 28, 2025, respondent filed a Motion to Dismiss, alleging that claimant had not filed his prehearing questionnaire as directed. A hearing on respondent’s Motion to Dismiss was scheduled for March 12, 2026, which was over six months since claimant had requested a hearing. Notice of the scheduled hearing was sent to claimant by certified mail at the last known address in the Commission’s file. The notice was returned unclaimed on March 2, 2026. However, claimant was advised by email on February 4, 2026, of this setting. Claimant objected to respondent’s motion but did not appear in person at the hearing on March 12, 2026.
Harrison-H308044 2 I find it has been more than six months since claimant requested a hearing but did not prosecute his claim as instructed. After my review of the respondent’s motion, the claimant’s failure to comply with directions to file his prehearing questionnaire and his failure to attend the hearing for the respondent’s motion, as well as all other matters properly before the Commission, I find that respondent’s Motion to Dismiss this claim should be and hereby is granted. This dismissal is pursuant to Commission 11 C.A.R. § 25-110(d) (formerly Commission Rule 099.13) and is without prejudice. IT IS SO ORDERED. _______________________________________ JOSEPH C. SELF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE
Source: https://www.labor.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/HARRISON_HOWARD_H308044_20260317.pdf. Published by the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing, Workers' Compensation Commission. Republished here as a public reference; consult the original PDF for citation.