AMALIA AGUILAR vs. PETALUMA VALLEY HOSPITAL, ST, JOSEPH HEALTH SYSTEM, THE HARTFORD, SEDGWICK CMS
This case involves a dispute over venue. The defendant timely objected to the applicant's initial filing venue, which was the attorney's principal place of business. The law mandates that if venue is based on the attorney's location and an objection is raised, venue must then be established in the county of the employee's residence or the injury site. Since the applicant resides in and was injured in Sonoma County, the Appeals Board granted the defendant's petition for removal. The Board rescinded a prior order that had set aside a change of venue and formally transferred the case to the Santa Rosa district office.