Josue Barrios

Lien claimants Tri-County Medical Group, Tri-City Health Group, and Komberg Chiropractic sought removal of a WCJ's March 30, 2026 Consolidation Order that consolidated their liens filed against six named carriers (Farmers, The Hartford, ICW Group, Liberty Mutual, Travelers, and Zenith) for purposes of discovery into asserted lien defenses under Labor Code sections 139.3, 139.32, 3215, and 3820. The order followed a prior January 2026 Appeals Board decision directing the WCJ to 'show their work' and establish tangible good cause for consolidation. The WCJ relied on sworn supplemental plea statements of Alpa Brown and Shilpa Kapadia in a Riverside County criminal case admitting to an illegal kickback scheme with chiropractor Edward Komberg involving billing the six named carriers. The Appeals Board adopted the WCJ's Report, finding substantial evidence of common questions of law and fact and no showing of substantial prejudice or irreparable harm. The Board denied the Petition for Removal, emphasizing that consolidation for discovery does not prejudge the merits of the lien defenses.