CHRISTOPHER TORRES vs. CONTRA COSTA SCHOOLS INSURANCE GROUP, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND
The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) rescinded a dismissal of an applicant's Independent Medical Review (IMR) appeal, which was initially dismissed for lack of verification. While the applicant's IMR appeal did not meet the statutory requirement for verification under Labor Code section 4610.6(h), the WCAB recognized the evolving nature of this requirement and the public policy favoring disposition on the merits. The case was returned to the trial level, allowing the applicant twenty days to cure the verification defect, after which the WCJ will address the substance of the appeal or dismiss it if the defect remains uncorrected.