Alvarez

In a workers’ compensation proceeding for death benefits, a panel-qualified medical evaluator (Lab. Code, § 4062.2) requested a copy of certain records in an ex parte telephone conversation with defense counsel. The claimant objected to the ex parte communication and petitioned, inter alla, for a new panel-qualified medical evaluator under section 4062.3, subdivision (f), which prohibits ex parte communications between a party and a panel-qualified medical evaluator and, in the event of a violation, allows the other party to seek a new panel-qualified medical evaluator from another panel. The Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) denied the petition, reasoning that the ex parte communication was not prohibited by the statute because the communication was initiated by the panel-qualified medical evaluator, not a party, and involved “administrative,” not “substantive” matters or the merits of the claim.

The claimant petitioned for writ of review, contending that section 4062.3, subdivision (f) explicitly precludes any ex parte communication between a panel-qualified medical evaluator and a party and that the WCAB may not add exceptions not contained in the statute.…