NC H26

Clarifies that injuries not identified on Commission forms under G.S. 97-18(b) or G.S. 97-18(d) are not presumed to be causally related to a compensable injury, reversing implications from the Wilkes v. City of Greenville court decision.

Requires employees to prove through a hearing under G.S. 97-84 that injuries or conditions not listed on the initial award forms are causally related to their compensable injury.

Modifies G.S. 97-90(f) to require the Industrial Commission to notify all of an employee's current and past attorneys of the total approved legal fee before determining how it will be divided between them.

Requires the Commission to hear fee division disputes between attorneys only after the settlement agreement has been approved by the Commission.

Effective when the law is signed and applies retroactively to claims accrued or pending prior to, on, or after the effective date.