Joshua Geiger vs. George Geiger, State Farm Insurance Bakersfield

This case concerns a defendant's petition for reconsideration of a Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) decision. The defendant argued that applicant's spouse had improper ex parte communication with the Agreed Medical Examiner (AME) by providing video and notes of the applicant's seizures. The WCAB denied reconsideration, finding that the communication occurred at the AME's request during the examination and was therefore exempt from statutory ex parte communication prohibitions. The Board concluded that the information provided was de minimis and did not warrant removal of the AME or striking of reports, especially since the seizure disorder was not a disputed issue.