Brenda Joyce Taylor appeals the superior court’s refusal to amend its judgment outside the term of court and its refusal to issue a writ of execution based on court-ordered workers-compensation payments that Taylor’s employer Peachbelt Properties, Inc. failed to pay. We hold that the superior court correctly concluded that it lacked authority to amend the judgment outside the term of court, but that the superior court erred in refusing to issue a writ of execution for the payments that became due during the seven years preceding the request for a writ of execution. Accordingly, we affirm in part and reverse in part. The key facts are undisputed, and the only questions before us are questions of law. Accordingly, we owe no deference to the superior court’s ruling and apply the “plain legal error” standard of review. Suarez v. Halbert .1
The record shows that in 1994, the State Board of Workers’ Compensation found that Taylor was totally disabled by a workplace injury and awarded Taylor her medical expenses and travel reimbursement, with a further order that her uninsured employer Peachbelt pay her a weekly disability benefit payment of $127.90 plus attorney fees and penalties. Pursuant to OCGA § 34-9-106, Taylor successfully petitioned the local superior court to enter a judgment against Peachbelt that tracked the language of the workers’ compensation award, which resulted in a February 28, 1995 judgment adopting the essential features of this award. See Wade v. Harris 2 “in an OCGA § 34-9-106 proceeding, the superior court’s role is very narrow. It is to render judgment on the award and notify the parties”. Specifically, as provided in the Board’s award, the superior court awarded a lump sum to Taylor of $37,747.08 consisting of medical expenses, travel reimbursement, and past due disability payments and ordered that Peachbelt pay Taylor $127.90 per week plus specified amounts for attorney fees and penalties “until modified or terminated in accordance with law.” On April 3, 1995, Taylor obtained a writ of fieri facias in the lump-sum amount of $37,747.08, which was entered on the general execution docket that same day.
