Hernandez, Lorena

Applicant Lorena Hernandez allegedly sustained industrial injuries on December 18, 2017, while employed by Angela White d/b/a Lashed LLC, resulting in her death on May 15, 2018. After a trial on defendant's objections to applicant's Exhibits 1-5 (text messages, a signed statement from the surviving spouse, and a proposed advocacy letter to the panel QME), the WCJ issued an F&O on January 18, 2024 overruling the objections and finding the exhibits admissible, along with a finding regarding employment. Defendant filed a petition styled as a Petition for Removal, arguing the WCJ failed to address its foundation, authentication, and due process objections. The Board determined the decision was a 'hybrid' (containing a threshold employment finding plus interlocutory evidentiary rulings), treated the petition as one for reconsideration, but applied the removal standard since defendant only challenged the interlocutory evidentiary rulings. The Board found the WCJ had in fact ruled on the objections and that defendant failed to show significant prejudice or irreparable harm, and denied the petition.