Reconsideration and review

• Author: David L. Pollak/Roger A. Tolman, Jr./Monika R. Reyes
• Pages: 1291-1350

RECONSIDERATION,

REVIEW

23-1

CHAPTER 23

RECONSIDERATION AND REVIEW

I. PETITION FOR RECONSIDERATION

§23:01 General Discussion

§23:02 Party Must Be “Aggrieved” to Have Standing

§23:03 Reconsideration May Only Be Sought From Final Order

§23:04 Time Limit: Within 20 Days of Valid Service

§23:05 Filing

§23:06 Service of Petition

§23:07 Answer to Petition for Reconsideration

§23:08 Judge’s Power to Amend Decision in Lieu of Reconsideration Petition

II. GROUNDS FOR RECONSIDERATION

§23:20 Action in Excess of Powers

§23:21 Fraud

§23:22 Findings Not Justif‌ied by Evidence

§23:23 Newly-Discovered Evidence; Fraud; Death of Applicant While Petition Is Pending

§23:24 Decision Unsupported By Findings

§23:25 Compare Reopening

III. FORM OF PETITION

§23:30 Board Form; Format Requirements

§23:31 “Skeleton Petitions” Subject to Dismissal or Denial

§23:32 No Delay for Transcripts

§23:33 Signature and Verif‌ication of Petition; Petitions Filed by Non-Attorneys

§23:34 Matters Not Raised at Trial or on Reconsideration Deemed Waived

§23:35 Practice Tips for Maximizing Success on Reconsideration

IV. PROCEDURES ON RECONSIDERATION; WCAB ADMINISTRATION; OTHER BOARD POWERS AND DUTIES

§23:40 Introduction

§23:41 WCJ May Modify or Rescind Order Within 15 Days; No Jurisdiction to Act Thereafter

§23:42 WCJ’s Report

§23:43 Answer to Petition; Supplemental Petitions

§23:44 Assignment to Panel

§23:45 En Banc Decisions

§23:46 The Appeals Board

§23:47 Deputy Commissioners

§23:48 Board Staff; Communications with the Board on Procedural Matters

§23:49 Board Action

§23:50 Time Limits for Board Action on Petition for Reconsideration

§23:51 Reconsideration on Board Motion

§23:52 Immediate Final Decisions

§23:53 Grants With Further Action

RECONSIDERATION,

REVIEW

California Workers’ Compensation 23-2

§23:54 Special Procedures Applicable to Arbitration and “Carve-Out” Proceedings

§23:55 Other Appeals Handled by WCAB: Disqualif‌ication Petitions; IBR & IMR Disputes; MPN Certif‌ication

§23:56 Other WCAB Functions; Discipline of Non-Attorney Hearing Representatives:

Collection of Sanctions; Rulemaking Power

V. BOARD POWERS AND DUTIES ON RECONSIDERATION

§23:60 To State Evidence and Reasons

§23:61 Summary Denials of Reconsideration; “Adopt and Incorporate”

§23:62 Great Weight to WCJ’s Findings; Substantial Evidence

§23:63 Broad Power to Make Its Own Findings

§23:64 Compare Where Witness Demeanor Unimportant

§23:65 No Arbitrary Grant

§23:66 Adequate Record and Case File: Duty to Develop Record

§23:67 Power to Grant Where Conf‌lict

§23:68 Grants in Multi-Party Cases

§23:69 Power to Rule on Constitutionality of Labor Code Provision and Validity of Regulations

§23:70 Sanctions for False, Frivolous, Noncompliant or Intemperate Petitions

§23:71 En Banc Decisions: May Not Be Used to Create “Underground Regulations”

§23:72 Prospective vs. Retroactive Application of En Banc Decisions

§23:73 Effect of Reversal of En Banc Decision by Court of Appeal

§23:74 Effect of Pending Writ Petition or Board’s Own Grant of Reconsideration on Validity of En Banc Decision

VI. BOARD’S “REMOVAL” POWER

§23:80 Interim Remedy Is Authorized by LC §5310

§23:81 Examples of Exercise of the Removal Power

§23:82 Refusal to Grant Removal

§23:83 Not to Avoid Trial; WCJ’s Obligations During Removal Proceedings

§23:84 Removal Following WCJ’s Orders to Develop Record

§23:85 Procedures on Petition for Removal: WCJ Report

§23:86 Effect of Decision on Removal on Further Proceedings

VII. PROCEEDINGS FOLLOWING RECONSIDERATION

§23:90 Hearings After Grant of Reconsideration

§23:91 Decisions After Reconsideration

§23:92 Further Reconsideration: No Successive Petitions Unless “Newly Aggrieved”

§23:93 WCJ Action After Reconsideration

§23:94 No Automatic Assignment after WCJ Reversal

VIII. JUDICIAL REVIEW

§23:100 Time and Place for Filing

§23:101 Petition for Writ

§23:102 Review by Appellate Courts Only

§23:103 Writ of Mandate and/or Prohibition

§23:104 Time Limits: “Jurisdictional”

§23:105 Final Board Orders Only

§23:106 Grounds of Review

§23: 107 “Substantial Evidence” Rule: Board Factual Determinations Final; Impact of Liberal Construction Mandate

§23:108 Rule of Court 8.495(a): Fair Statement of Material Evidence Required; Inclusion of WCJ’s Reports

§23:109 Unreasonable or Arbitrary Awards Prohibited

§23:110 Form of Petition

§23:111 Answer to Petition

§23:112 Time Limits and Extension Thereof for Filing Answer

§23:113 Drafting the Petition; Practice Tips

§23:114 “Skeleton” Petitions May Be Augmented

§23:115 “Lay Representatives” Barred on Appellate Review

RECONSIDERATION,

REVIEW

23-3 Reconsideration and Review

IX. APPELLATE PROCEEDINGS

§23:120 “Postcard” Writ Denial

§23:121 Citation of Case Authority: The CCCs and CWCR; “Writ Denieds,”

“Signif‌icant” and “Noteworthy” Panel Opinions

§23:122 Summary Remand

§23:123 Granted Writs

§23:124 Oral Argument and Appellate Opinion

§23:125 Published and Unpublished Court of Appeal Opinions

§23:126 Petition for Supreme Court Review

§23:127 Attorney’s Fee on Appellate Proceedings

§23:128 Appellate “Costs”

§23:129 Enforcement of Award While Writ Proceedings Are Pending

§23:130 Constitutional Remedies Available in Federal Court

X. PROCEEDINGS FOLLOWING JUDICIAL REVIEW

§23:140 Final Decision or Subsequent Proceedings

FORMS (ON DIGITAL ACCESS ONLY)

23.1 Petition for Reconsideration (DWC WCAB Form 45)