WCPanelIQ
PanelQMEMed-legalGranted

Boursalian, Maral

MARAL BOURSALIAN, Applicant vs. STANFORD UNIVERSITY and AMERICAN ZURICH INSURANCE COMPANY, administered by ZURICH NORTH AMERICA, Defendants

ADJ number
ADJ14002457
Decision date
Dec 1, 2024
District office
San Jose
WCJ
—
Claim administrator
American Zurich Insurance Company, administered by Zurich North America
Commissioners
JOSEPH V. CAPURRO, COMMISSIONER, KATHERINE A. ZALEWSKI, CHAIR, KATHERINE WILLIAMS DODD, COMMISSIONER

Injury / body parts: psyche

LC §5909LC §3208.3LC §4060LC §4061LC §4062.3LC §5701LC §5906LC §5313

Summary

Applicant, appearing in pro per after dismissing her attorney, claimed a psychiatric injury AOE/COE during her employment as an administrative associate at Stanford University. The WCJ found applicant failed to meet her burden of proving injury to her psyche and denied the claim without the benefit of a QME psychiatric evaluation. The WCAB granted reconsideration, finding that the WCJ improperly decided a medical issue (psychiatric injury compensability) without medical evidence, particularly where applicant had requested a QME panel in psychiatry, the originally selected QME (Dr. Sidle) had retired, and applicant was awaiting a replacement QME evaluation. The Board rescinded the F&O and remanded for further development of the record, emphasizing that unrepresented employees are entitled to QME evaluations to determine compensability and permanent impairment.

Issues

Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes full case search.

Holding

Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes full case search.

Analysis

Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes full case search.

Applicant takeaway

Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes full case search.

Defense takeaway

Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes full case search.

Provider takeaway

Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes full case search.

Similar decisions

Member is $25/month or $250/year. Subscribe to view similar decisions.

Member is $25/month or $250/year. Subscribe to view similar decisions.

Member is $25/month or $250/year. Subscribe to view similar decisions.

Member is $25/month or $250/year. Subscribe to view similar decisions.

Member is $25/month or $250/year. Subscribe to view similar decisions.

Member is $25/month or $250/year. Subscribe to view similar decisions.

Member is $25/month or $250/year. Subscribe to view similar decisions.

Member is $25/month or $250/year. Subscribe to view similar decisions.