RAMIRO GONZALEZ vs. Mc CALL'S NURSERIES, INC., HORTICA INSURANCE & EMPLOYEES BENEFITS

This case involves an applicant seeking workers' compensation after an industrial injury, who also filed a third-party civil suit. Initially, the parties stipulated there was no employer negligence, but the applicant later sought to withdraw this stipulation after discovering new evidence relevant to employer fault. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied the defendant's Petition for Removal, finding that the Administrative Law Judge acted within their authority to allow the issues of employer negligence and third-party credit to be added for trial, as these are intertwined and the defendant failed to show substantial prejudice from this procedural step. Removal is an extraordinary remedy, and the Board concluded that reconsideration would be an adequate remedy if the defendant ultimately prevails on these issues.