Chaunte Baldwin Page — ADJ8923322

Cost petitioner Supreme Copy Service, Inc. sought reconsideration of an Amended Findings and Award that valued its pre-fee-schedule medical-legal copy services at $2,315.20 (with $680.48 still owed), plus a 15% penalty and 7% interest, while denying costs and sanctions. Supreme Copy argued the WCJ improperly relied on the copy service fee schedule instead of its 'market rate' geographical analysis evidence, and that defendant's bad-faith tactics warranted costs and sanctions. The Board adopted and incorporated the WCJ's Report, holding that the WCJ has discretion to weigh a wide range of factors and is not bound to follow unrebutted 'market rate' evidence, especially where that evidence failed to show comparability to the services actually provided. The Board also clarified that Medina was misread by cost petitioner and that sanctions under section 5813 are discretionary and paid to the General Fund, not awarded to a party. The Petition for Reconsideration was denied.