34:15-118. Powers and duties of commissioner of banking and insurance with respect to compensation claims .

The Commissioner of Banking and Insurance or his duly authorized representative may investigate and may defend before the worker's compensation bureau or any court any or all claims for compensation against an employer insured by an insolvent carrier or against such insolvent carrier and may prosecute any pending appeal or may appeal from or make application for modification or recission or review of an agreement, award or decision against such employer or insolvent carrier. Until all such claims for compensation are closed and all such awards thereon are paid the commissioner of banking and insurance as administrator of the funds, shall be a party in interest in respect to all such claims, agreements and awards. For the purposes of this act such commissioner shall have exclusive power to select and employ such counsel, clerks and assistants as may be deemed necessary and to fix and determine their powers and duties; and he may also, in his discretion, arrange with any carrier or carriers to investigate and defend any or all such claims and to liquidate and pay such as are valid and such commissioner may from time to time reimburse from the appropriate fund, such carrier or carriers for compensation payments so made together with reasonable allowance for the services so rendered.