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PanelQMEMed-legalDenied

Aldridge, Richard

RICHARD ALDRIDGE, Applicant vs. ANGELS BASEBALL LP; ACE AMERICAN INSURANCE, administered by SEDGWICK CLAIMS MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC., Defendants

ADJ number: ADJ12088514
Decision date: Oct 9, 2025
District office: Anaheim
WCJ: —
Claim administrator: Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc. (administering ACE American Insurance)
Commissioners: KATHERINE A. ZALEWSKI, CHAIR, JOSEPH V. CAPURRO, COMMISSIONER, PAUL KELLY, COMMISSIONER

Injury / body parts: shoulders, elbows, wrists, hands, fingers, thoracic spine, lumbar spine, cervical spine, hips, feet, ankles, knees, head

LC §5909LC §5900LC §5904CCR §41CCR §41.5CCR §31.5CCR §10955CCR §10600

Summary

Applicant Richard Aldridge sought removal of a WCJ's Findings and Order disqualifying Dr. David Kim as QME for violating AD Rule 41(a)(4) when, during a QME examination, Dr. Kim wrote a prescription for 5 hydrocodone tablets at applicant's request. The WCJ found this constituted treatment, disqualified Dr. Kim, but ruled that his reports could be reviewed by a subsequent examiner. Because the decision included a threshold employment finding, the Board treated the petition as one for reconsideration but evaluated the interlocutory QME disqualification issue under the removal standard. The Board agreed that prescribing narcotic medication—undisclosed in and inconsistent with Dr. Kim's reporting—created a reasonable doubt as to his integrity and impartiality, and that applicant failed to show significant prejudice or irreparable harm since the reporting could still be considered. Reconsideration was denied.

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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Similar decisions

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Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.

Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.

Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.

Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.

Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.

Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.

Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.