In the summer of 1996, a collective feeling of relief reverberated through the Pennsylvania workers' compensation bar. Finally, the concept of a full and final settlement of all liability was approved and in its nascency. In years prior, cases seemed to drone on forever and the complicated process to close out a claim (or at least indemnity liability) was limited to the "commutation" method—theoretical stipulations as to future earning capacity in order to arrive at a commuted present-day payment. The math alone was impetus enough to move to another area of law.