Gomez, Sotero

Defendant County of Kern, permissibly self-insured, sought reconsideration of a November 26, 2025 decision by the PWCJ that, among other things, found applicant Sotero Gomez sustained two specific industrial injuries (August 24, 2019 and January 2, 2020), denied defendant's petition for a discovery order requiring applicant to execute a social security release (Discovery Order #1), and excluded a 2018 Doctor's First Report by Kayvon Yadidi, D.O. from evidence (Order #9). The Appeals Board first confirmed its timely action under amended Labor Code section 5909, noting the case was transmitted on January 29, 2026. The Board found the PWCJ's decision was a hybrid containing final threshold findings (employment relationship and injury AOE/COE) and interlocutory discovery/evidentiary orders. Because defendant challenged only the interlocutory orders, the Board evaluated them under the removal standard rather than reconsideration. Finding no significant prejudice or irreparable harm, and that reconsideration would be an adequate remedy after a final decision, the Board denied the petition.