WCPanelIQ
PanelQMEMed-legalGranted

Rosario Ramirez, Alejandro

ALEJANDRO ROSARIO RAMIREZ, Applicant vs. NICHOLS FARMS, INC.; ZENITH INSURANCE COMPANY, Defendants

ADJ number
ADJ15164960
Decision date
May 11, 2023
District office
Fresno
WCJ
—
Claim administrator
Zenith Insurance Company
Commissioners
CRAIG SNELLINGS, COMMISSIONER, KATHERINE WILLIAMS DODD, COMMISSIONER, KATHERINE A. ZALEWSKI, CHAIR

Injury / body parts: back, thoracic spine, chest

LC §5311LC §5813LC §5814CCR §10960CCR §10955CCR §10682

Summary

Applicant claimed a cumulative injury to his back, thoracic spine, and chest while working as a laborer/forklift operator for Nichols Farms from January 1, 2010, through September 2, 2021. The WCJ found chiropractic QME Dr. Ronald Ybarra's report constituted substantial evidence and awarded injury AOE/COE, while also sua sponte adding sanctions issues against defendant and ordering defense counsel to file a declaration detailing claims handling. Defendant petitioned for reconsideration, removal, and disqualification of the WCJ. The Board dismissed the removal/disqualification petition as moot because the WCJ had rescinded the sua sponte issues before issuing the F&A, and granted reconsideration finding that neither the unsigned treating physician report nor Dr. Ybarra's admittedly incomplete QME report constituted substantial evidence. The Board rescinded the F&A and returned the matter to the WCJ for further proceedings, allowing Dr. Ybarra to review the diagnostics he requested and re-evaluate the applicant.

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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