Maestas, Ruben

SCIF paid benefits on a workers' compensation claim and sought contribution from Liberty Mutual, which had insured the employer for part of the relevant period. After Liberty Mutual repeatedly failed to respond or appear, WCJ Heslin issued an August 16, 2017 Order to Pay Contribution of $57,430.27, which SCIF entered as a Superior Court judgment under Labor Code section 5806. Liberty Mutual later sought relief, and the matter went to trial solely on whether the WCAB retained jurisdiction to vacate, alter, or amend the contribution order after it was entered as a Superior Court judgment. The WCJ found no basis for continuing jurisdiction because Liberty Mutual never filed a petition for reconsideration, but went further and effectively decided the good-cause issue, which had not been framed for trial. The Appeals Board confirmed that it does retain exclusive jurisdiction over its own orders even after entry as a Superior Court judgment, but rescinded the F&O because the WCJ improperly decided an issue not raised at trial, and remanded for the parties to litigate Liberty Mutual's set-aside request.