Fuentes Carillo, Israel

Both applicant and defendant filed Petitions for Reconsideration of the Arbitrator's March 30, 2023 Orders for Sanctions imposed on each party. The Arbitrator apparently took the position that the sanction orders were not final, appealable orders. The WCAB disagreed, holding that sanction orders affect the liability of the sanctioned parties and are therefore final and subject to reconsideration, and that both petitions were timely filed in EAMS. The Board also found that the Arbitrator's April 27, 2023 Order Approving Compromise and Release was void ab initio because it was issued while the case was pending on reconsideration. The Board granted both petitions, rescinded the sanction orders, and returned the matter to the Arbitrator for further proceedings.