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The Appeals Board ruled that medical-legal expenses, including copy service costs for obtaining medical records, cannot be recovered through a general petition for costs under Labor Code section 5811. Such claims must instead be pursued through the established lien process, which now includes a lien activation fee under Labor Code section 4903.06. Lien claimants who withdrew their liens prior to this decision and filed petitions for costs are permitted to reinstate their liens to pursue recovery, provided they comply with the lien activation fee requirements and their liens were not otherwise dismissed. This decision aims to provide uniformity and prevent parties from avoiding statutorily mandated fees through procedural maneuvers.
Full Decision Text1 Pages
The Appeals Board ruled that medical-legal expenses, including copy service costs for obtaining medical records, cannot be recovered through a general petition for costs under Labor Code section 5811. Such claims must instead be pursued through the established lien process, which now includes a lien activation fee under Labor Code section 4903.06. Lien claimants who withdrew their liens prior to this decision and filed petitions for costs are permitted to reinstate their liens to pursue recovery, provided they comply with the lien activation fee requirements and their liens were not otherwise dismissed. This decision aims to provide uniformity and prevent parties from avoiding statutorily mandated fees through procedural maneuvers.
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