Jeffrey Keitges — ADJ13367297

Applicant Jeffrey Keitges, a former Seattle Mariners player, filed a Petition for Removal challenging the WCJ's May 12, 2022 order denying a continuance and setting the matter for trial on the limited issue of whether applicant exercised due diligence in obtaining ortho/internal medical-legal evaluations. The WCJ clarified that the case was not set for trial on all issues, only on the due diligence question. The Board found the petition timely and granted removal, concluding that the issue of the sufficiency of the record must be evaluated in tandem with the due diligence issue, consistent with due process. The Board amended the order to defer to the trial WCJ the questions of whether discovery had closed at the time of the MSC and whether further development of the record is appropriate.