Williams, Angelina

Defendant Southern California Permanente Medical Group, permissibly self-insured and adjusted by Sedgwick CMS, filed a petition for removal from the WCJ's May 21, 2025 order setting the matter for trial, arguing that discovery was incomplete and that the WCJ erred by allowing discovery to remain open before trial. The Appeals Board reviewed the petition, applicant's answer, and the WCJ's Report and Recommendation. The Board reiterated that removal is an extraordinary remedy granted only where the petitioner shows substantial prejudice or irreparable harm and that reconsideration would not be an adequate later remedy. The Board found defendant failed to meet this high bar, noting that the parties could raise the discovery issue with the trial WCJ and preserve objections for a later petition for reconsideration. Removal was denied.