Home/Case Law/CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON, (Deceased) vs. COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO
Regular DecisionPetition for Exhumation and Autopsy

CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON, (Deceased) vs. COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO

Filed: Nov 06, 2013
San Diego
ADJ11164231

CompFox AI Summary

This case involves a petition for exhumation and autopsy filed by the dependents of a deceased sheriff to determine the industrial cause of death. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied the petition because the applicants failed to provide any expert medical opinion supporting the necessity of an autopsy, despite multiple continuances in the case for discovery. The Board cited case law emphasizing that exhumation is a sensitive matter requiring substantial justification and expert support to demonstrate its probable value in providing significant information. While the petition is denied, it can be refiled with appropriate supporting evidence.

Full Decision Text1 Pages

This case involves a petition for exhumation and autopsy filed by the dependents of a deceased sheriff to determine the industrial cause of death. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied the petition because the applicants failed to provide any expert medical opinion supporting the necessity of an autopsy, despite multiple continuances in the case for discovery. The Board cited case law emphasizing that exhumation is a sensitive matter requiring substantial justification and expert support to demonstrate its probable value in providing significant information. While the petition is denied, it can be refiled with appropriate supporting evidence.

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