Boulos, Manny

Defendants, the permissibly self-insured City of Coalinga and its TPA LWP Claims Solutions, sought removal of the WCJ's January 28, 2025 Minutes of Hearing and Order taking the matter off calendar for further discovery. Defendants argued that discovery had closed at the initial Mandatory Settlement Conference on October 10, 2024, and that allowing further discovery caused them significant prejudice and irreparable harm. Applicant filed no answer, and the WCJ submitted a Report recommending denial. The Appeals Board, applying the standards under CCR section 10955, found defendants failed to demonstrate substantial prejudice or irreparable harm, or that reconsideration would be an inadequate remedy. The petition for removal was denied.