IGNACIO PAZ vs. BENIHANA, INC., ZURICH LOS ANGELES
In this workers' compensation case, multiple lien claimants' liens were dismissed for failure to pay the required activation fee or appear at a lien conference. Their attorney claimed they lacked notice of the conference, but evidence indicates their representative initiated the conference and was served with notice. The Appeals Board granted reconsideration to consider sanctions against the attorney for filing a petition for reconsideration that appears indisputably without merit, potentially based on misrepresentation or failure to investigate facts. The Board intends to impose sanctions on the attorney for alleged bad faith actions under Labor Code Section 5813.