1. A. All required filings pertaining to any case shall be sent to the Workers' Compensation Court Administrator , 1915 North Stiles Avenue, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105. After the case has been assigned, correspondence may be addressed to the assigned trial judge. All correspondence related to a settlement conference shall be addressed to the assigned settlement conference judge.
2. B. Parties, attorneys, mediators, case managers, vocational rehabilitation evaluators and medical providers shall have no ex parte communications with the assigned trial judge regarding the merits of a specific matter pending before the assigned judge of the Workers' Compensation Court.

3. C.

   1. 1. Direct or indirect ex parte communications with court appointed professionals regarding specific cases or claimants are prohibited except as provided in this subsection.
   2. 2. The term "court appointed professionals" shall include independent medical examiners, vocational rehabilitation counselors, case managers, psychologists and others who have been appointed by the Court to provide services or treatment to the claimant. This term also includes the office staff of the professional and any physician to whom the claimant is subsequently referred for treatment or evaluation. This term is deemed to include any physician who accepts a referral of the claimant from a court appointed professional. The term excludes a Form A physician selected pursuant to 85 O.S., Section 14(G).

   3. 3. Permitted communications are the following:

      1. a. Joint letter of the parties requesting information or opinions from the court appointed professional after approval by the assigned judge. b. Communication with the staff of a physician or psychologist to schedule or verify an appointment, or to authorize diagnostic testing, treatment or surgery. c. Communications with a court appointed case manager concerning light duty issues consistent with the physician's restrictions. d. Any communication between the claimant and the court appointed professional necessary to complete the claimant's treatment, testing or evaluation. e. Communication between court appointed professionals.
   4. 4. Failure to comply with this subsection shall, in the discretion of the assigned judge, result in imposition of costs, citation for contempt of court, or sanctions against the offending party.
   5. 5. This subsection applies to the attorneys, agents, and employees of the parties and anyone acting in their behalf.
   6. 6. Instances of prohibited communications with a court appointed professional shall be communicated by the court appointed professional to the assigned judge and all counsel, in writing.

Adopted by order of the Supreme Court, 1997 OK 130, eff. April 15, 2000; Amended by order of the Supreme Court, 2002 OK 6, eff. March 1, 2002; Amended by order of the Supreme Court, 2006 OK 6, eff. January 1, 2006 (superseded document available). Amended by order of the Oklahoma Supreme Court, 2008 OK 11 , eff. February 7, 2008 (superseded document available).