§392-72  Appeals, filing and hearing. (a)  If a person disputes the amount of benefits, paid under part III or partIV, or the denial of benefits, the claimant may file an appeal, in the form andmanner prescribed by regulation of the director, at the office of thedepartment in the county in which the claimant resides or in the county inwhich the claimant was employed prior to the claimant's disability, withintwenty days after the date of payment of such disputed benefits or the denialthereof.  Notice of the appeal shall be served upon the employer or insurer orthe special fund for disability benefits in the form and manner prescribed byregulation of the director.

(b)  The appeal shall be heard in the county inwhich the appeal is filed; provided that the director may by regulation providefor good cause for the holding of a hearing in another county and may providefor the taking of depositions.  Unless the appeal is withdrawn with thepermission of the referee, the referee after affording the parties reasonableopportunity for a fair hearing shall make findings and conclusions and on thebasis thereof affirm, modify, or deny the disputed benefits.  All parties shallbe promptly notified of the decision of the referee and shall be furnished witha copy of the decision and the findings and conclusions in support thereof andthe decision shall be final and shall be binding unless a proceeding forjudicial review is initiated pursuant to section 392-75; provided that withinthe time provided for taking an appeal and prior to the filing of a notice ofappeal, the referee may reopen the matter, upon application of the director orany party, or upon the referee's own motion, and thereupon may take furtherevidence or may modify the referee's decision, findings, or conclusions.  Inthe event the matter is reopened, the referee shall render a further decisionin the matter, either reaffirming or modifying the referee's original decision,and notice shall be given thereof in the manner hereinbefore provided.  Thetime to initiate judicial review shall run from the notice of such furtherdecision if the matter has been reopened. [L 1969, c 148, pt of §1; am L 1973,c 62, §1; gen ch 1985]