CompFox AI Summary
The WCAB granted the employer's petition for removal, reversing a prior order that required claims handlers to appear at a status conference. The Board found the mandatory appearance of claims handlers from out of the local area to be burdensome and costly, causing substantial prejudice. While affirming the general order to rescind a previous award, the WCAB amended it to remove the personal appearance requirement for the claims handlers. This decision emphasizes that defense counsel's presence and a claims handler's availability by phone generally suffice for such conferences.
Full Decision Text1 Pages
The WCAB granted the employer's petition for removal, reversing a prior order that required claims handlers to appear at a status conference. The Board found the mandatory appearance of claims handlers from out of the local area to be burdensome and costly, causing substantial prejudice. While affirming the general order to rescind a previous award, the WCAB amended it to remove the personal appearance requirement for the claims handlers. This decision emphasizes that defense counsel's presence and a claims handler's availability by phone generally suffice for such conferences.
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