Garcia, Elvira

Applicant Elvira Garcia, a healthcare social worker, claimed injury to headaches and psyche while employed by County of Riverside (permissibly self-insured) on September 20, 2017. On November 4, 2024, the parties entered Stipulations with Request for Award finding 33% permanent disability, which the WCJ approved. Acting in pro per after dismissing her attorney, applicant filed a timely Petition for Reconsideration on November 18, 2024, contending the Stipulations were based on stale medical reporting and should be set aside, and that she instead wanted a Compromise and Release. The Board, agreeing with the WCJ's Report, dismissed the Petition as premature and returned the matter to the trial level to treat it as a petition to set aside the Award. The Board also addressed its timely action under amended Labor Code section 5909 and noted defendant served the Award using a stale address list.