CompFox AI Summary
In this case, the Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund (SIBTF) sought to compel the applicant to use the same Agreed Medical Examiner (AME) from her original workers' compensation claim for her SIBTF claim. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board affirmed the WCJ's order allowing the applicant to obtain new medical-legal evaluations for her SIBTF claim with a different physician, independent of the original AME. The Board determined that the discovery procedures for workers' compensation claims, as outlined in Labor Code section 4062.2, do not apply to SIBTF claims due to their distinct legal issues. Therefore, SIBTF is responsible for reasonable costs of these independent evaluations, ensuring due process for developing evidence specific to the SIBTF claim.
Full Decision Text1 Pages
In this case, the Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund (SIBTF) sought to compel the applicant to use the same Agreed Medical Examiner (AME) from her original workers' compensation claim for her SIBTF claim. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board affirmed the WCJ's order allowing the applicant to obtain new medical-legal evaluations for her SIBTF claim with a different physician, independent of the original AME. The Board determined that the discovery procedures for workers' compensation claims, as outlined in Labor Code section 4062.2, do not apply to SIBTF claims due to their distinct legal issues. Therefore, SIBTF is responsible for reasonable costs of these independent evaluations, ensuring due process for developing evidence specific to the SIBTF claim.
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