MERARI GORDILLO vs. ARCADIA CHAIR COMPANY, NATIONAL UNION FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY

The Appeals Board granted the defendant's petition for removal to prevent substantial prejudice and irreparable harm. The defendant argued that proceeding to trial without a crucial Panel Qualified Medical Evaluator (PQME) report would deny them due process. Consequently, the Board converted the scheduled trial date to a Mandatory Settlement Conference and kept discovery open until its completion. This decision aims to ensure a more informed resolution by allowing parties to consider the PQME's findings.