ARTURO TRUJILLO vs. TIC THE INDUSTRIAL COMPANY, THE HARTFORD INSURANCE

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) vacated its prior order granting reconsideration and dismissed the defendant's petition for reconsideration. The WCAB granted the defendant's petition for removal, rescinded the WCJ's findings and orders, and returned the case to the trial level for further proceedings. This decision stemmed from a dispute over whether an Agreed Medical Evaluator's (AME) interview with the applicant's wife and the applicant's provision of medical records at the AME's deposition constituted impermissible ex parte communication. The WCAB found that the interview with the wife was permissible as a collateral source to supplement the applicant's potentially impaired memory due to a brain injury, and that the provision of records at the deposition was not ex parte as the defendant was present. However, the WCAB remanded the case for the WCJ to determine if the applicant improperly provided information to the AME, as parties must agree on what information is provided to an AME.