§ 28-35-8. Filing of non-prejudicial memorandum of agreement. (a) Notwithstanding § 28-35-1, if the employer files a memorandum of agreement but specifically designates that agreement as a "non-prejudicial" or "without prejudice", the employer may pay weekly compensation benefits not exceeding thirteen (13) weeks. In these cases, the employer shall send a copy of the non-prejudicial memorandum and any amendments to it to the employee and his or her attorney or the representative of the decedent and his or her attorney by certified mail, return receipt requested, at the same time as it is filed with the department in the same manner as if it were a memorandum of agreement. The non-prejudicial memorandum of agreement shall contain all information as directed by § 28-35-1. Having done so, the non-prejudicial memorandum of agreement and any action taken pursuant to it shall be without prejudice to any party subsequently maintaining any position as to employer liability for payments under chapters 29 - 38 of this title, maintainable in the absence of an agreement. If at any time within or at the close of the thirteen-week period after payments of compensation have commenced the employer or insurer terminates weekly payments to the employee or to those entitled to payments on account of death of an employee, the employer or insurer shall notify the employee and his or her attorney or the representative of the decedent employee and his or her attorney within ten (10) days on a form prescribed by the department that:

(1) Payments have terminated;

(2) The claim has not been formally accepted; and

(3) The employee has the right to file a petition, within the two (2) year limitation as set forth in § 28-35-57, to formally establish liability of the employer or insurer.

(b) If the employer or insurer makes payments of weekly benefits to the employee or to those entitled to payments on account of death of an employee for more than the thirteen (13) week period, the payments shall constitute a conclusive admission of liability and ongoing incapacity as to the injuries set forth in the non-prejudicial memorandum of agreement. The employer or insurer shall within ten (10) days of making additional payments file a memorandum of agreement pursuant to § 28-35-1.

History of Section. (P.L. 1990, ch. 332, art. 1, § 9; P.L. 1993, ch. 474, § 2.)