A. 1. Every claim, request for benefits, controversion of benefits, request for a hearing, pleading, motion, and other paper of a party represented by an attorney shall be signed by at least one attorney of record in his or her individual name, whose address shall be stated. A party who is not represented by an attorney shall sign his or her claim, request for benefits, request for additional benefits, controversion of benefits, request for a hearing, pleading, motion, or other paper, and state his or her address.

2. The signature of an attorney or party constitutes a certificate by him or her that:

a.he or she has read the claim, request for benefits, request for additional benefits, controversion of benefits, request for a hearing, pleading, motion, or other paper,

b.to the best of his or her knowledge, information, and belief formed after reasonable inquiry, it is well grounded in fact and is warranted by existing law or a good-faith argument for the extension, modification, or reversal of existing law, and

c.it is not brought for any improper purpose, such as to harass or to cause unnecessary delay or needless increase in the cost of litigation.

3. If a claim, request for benefits, request for additional benefits, controversion of benefits, request for a hearing, pleading, motion, or other paper is not signed, it shall be stricken unless it is signed promptly after the omission is called to the attention of the pleader or movant.

4. If a claim, request for benefits, controversion of benefits, request for a hearing, pleading, motion, or other paper is signed in violation of this act, the Commission, including administrative law judges, on motion or on their own initiative, shall impose on the signatory, a represented party, or both, an appropriate sanction, which may include a judgment to pay to the other party or parties the amount of reasonable expenses incurred because of the filing of a claim, request for benefits, request for additional benefits, controversion of benefits, request for a hearing, pleading, motion, or other paper, including a reasonable attorney fee.

B. Appropriate sanctions, including the amount of reasonable expenses and attorney fees, may also be imposed against a party or its attorney who, without good cause shown, fails to appear for a hearing, deposition, or any other matter scheduled by the Commission or administrative law judge, or who frivolously joins another party.

Added by Laws 2013, c. 208, § 83, eff. Feb. 1, 2014.