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PanelQMEMed-legalGranted

Goodenough, Julie

JULIE GOODENOUGH, Applicant vs. TROPICANA MANUFACTURING COMPANY/PEPSICO; ACE AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY, administered by SEDGWICK CMS, Defendants

ADJ number: ADJ18784544
Decision date: Aug 18, 2025
District office: Van Nuys
WCJ: —
Claim administrator: Sedgwick CMS (administering ACE American Insurance Company)
Commissioners: CRAIG SNELLINGS, COMMISSIONER, KATHERINE A. ZALEWSKI, CHAIR, KATHERINE WILLIAMS DODD, COMMISSIONER

Injury / body parts: neck, back, left leg, left foot, hands, stomach, psyche, teeth/dental

LC §5313LC §5903LC §5952CCR §10628CCR §10629CCR §10832CCR §10955CCR §31.7CCR §10787

Summary

Applicant Julie Goodenough claimed injury to multiple body parts during her employment with Tropicana Manufacturing/PepsiCo, and her claim was denied in its entirety by defendant. After her PTP issued RFAs and a chiropractic QME recommended additional evaluations, applicant petitioned for additional QME panels in dentistry, psychiatry, and internal medicine-gastroenterology, which the WCJ granted without first issuing a Notice of Intention. Defendant sought removal, arguing the WCJ abused his discretion by failing to issue an NIT and by ordering panels without a factual basis. The Appeals Board granted removal, holding that the failure to issue an NIT before granting the disputed order and the improper delegation of service to applicant's counsel violated due process, and that the record lacked substantial evidence to determine good cause. The Board rescinded the October 7, 2024 Order and returned the matter to the trial level for further proceedings.

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

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.

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.