WCPanelIQ
PanelQMEMed-legalGranted

Pacheco, Adriana

ADRIANA PACHECO, Applicant vs. CALICO BUILDING SERVICES, INC.; BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME STATE INSURANCE COMPANY, dba BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME STATE COMPANIES, Defendants

ADJ number
ADJ11662102
Decision date
Oct 8, 2023
District office
Oakland
WCJ
—
Claim administrator
Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Insurance Company, dba Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies
Commissioners
KATHERINE A. ZALEWSKI, CHAIR, KATHERINE WILLIAMS DODD, COMMISSIONER, JOSÉ H. RAZO, COMMISSIONER

Injury / body parts: neck, right shoulder

LC §4062.3CCR §10955

Summary

Applicant Adriana Pacheco settled a 2018 neck and right shoulder injury claim by stipulated award in July 2019, with Dr. Fred Blackwell serving as the panel QME. After filing a petition to reopen in January 2022 and obtaining an order allowing reevaluation with Dr. Blackwell, applicant served a cover letter on the QME without serving defendant 20 days in advance as required by Labor Code section 4062.3(b). The WCJ found the violation and granted defendant a replacement QME panel. On removal, the Appeals Board affirmed the finding of a 4062.3(b) violation but held the WCJ erred by ordering a replacement panel without analyzing the Suon factors. Applying Suon, the Board concluded the violation's prejudicial impact did not warrant dismissing Dr. Blackwell, particularly given his years-long involvement with the case, and amended the F&O to deny defendant's request for a replacement panel.

Issues

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Holding

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Analysis

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Applicant takeaway

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Defense takeaway

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Provider takeaway

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