Christen, Mirela

Applicant Mirela Christen sought reconsideration of a November 16, 2023 Joint Findings of Fact and Orders in which the WCJ held that the WCAB lacked jurisdiction over her claim that her former guardian ad litem (her ex-spouse Robert Master) misappropriated proceeds of her 1999 Compromise and Release, and that her claim was barred by collateral estoppel from prior superior court dissolution proceedings. The Appeals Board granted reconsideration and affirmed the F&O as amended. It held that collateral estoppel did not apply because the record contained only a Notice of Intended Decision/Addendum, not a final judgment, so the issue was not shown to be necessarily decided or final on the merits. However, the Board agreed it lacked authority to order the guardian ad litem to disgorge funds received under the finalized C&R, as no statutory or equitable basis conferred such jurisdiction. The Board also corrected a clerical error regarding the guardian ad litem's appointment date (June 24, 1999, not June 8, 1999).