What Happens at a DIA Conference or Hearing in Massachusetts?

If your workers’ compensation case moves forward after conciliation, it will be scheduled for a conference and, if necessary, a hearing before an Administrative Judge at the Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents.

Understanding the difference between these two stages is critical—because a conference is not a hearing, and what happens at each stage is very different.

What Happens at a DIA Conference?

A conference is the first formal legal stage of your case before a judge. It is not a trial, and you will not testify.

At the conference:

• Your attorney presents your case based on medical records, reports, and legal arguments
• The insurance company’s attorney presents their position
• The judge reviews the submitted evidence but does not hear live testimony
• The proceeding is typically brief and informal compared to a hearing

After the conference, the judge will issue a written decision called a conference order. This order may:

• Award or deny weekly benefits
• Address medical treatment under Sections 13 and 30
• Modify or discontinue benefits

This order is temporary, but it is binding unless appealed.

What Happens at a DIA Hearing?

If either party appeals the conference order, the case proceeds to a hearing, which is like a formal trial.

At the hearing:

• You will testify under oath about your injury and limitations
• Medical evidence is introduced, including reports and possibly depositions of doctors
• Witnesses may testify (including vocational experts in some cases)
• The judge evaluates credibility, medical opinions, and legal arguments

Unlike a conference, a hearing is a full evidentiary proceeding, and the judge’s decision is final (subject to further appeal).

The Role of the Section 11A Exam

In most cases that proceed to hearing, the judge will assign an impartial, or neutral, medical examiner under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 152 Section 11A.

This Section 11A impartial exam plays a major role because:

• The doctor’s opinion is often given significant weight
• It can limit or shape the medical issues in dispute
• Additional medical evidence may only be allowed in certain circumstances

Key Differences Between Conference and Hearing

• Conference: Informal, no testimony, judge issues a temporary order
• Hearing: Formal trial, testimony required, judge issues a final decision

Why This Matters

Many injured workers expect to “tell their story” at the conference—but that does not happen until the hearing stage. Preparing your case properly at both stages is essential, especially given how much weight judges place on medical evidence.

Speak With a Massachusetts Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

At Chisholm Law LLC, we guide clients through every stage of the DIA process—from conciliation through conference and hearing. We prepare your case strategically, present the strongest possible medical evidence, and position you for success at each level.

If your case has been scheduled for a conference or hearing, contact us today to make sure you are fully prepared.