City of Anaheim v. Workers' Compensation Appeals Board

Petitioner City of Anaheim (City) seeks review and annulment of an order of the Workers’ Compensation Appeals *251 Board (WCAB or Board) filed August 18, 1980, denying a motion for removal to the Board which in effect upheld a determination by a WCAB judge denying a motion by City to change the place of trial 1 from Board’s Ventura office to its office in Santa Ana.

Johnathan Beteag (Mr. Beteag or applicant) was employed as a police officer by the City which is permissibly self-insured for workers’ compensation. On March 17, 1980, Mr. Beteag filed two applications for adjudication of claim in the Ventura office of the WCAB. One asserted injury to various organs and bodily systems allegedly caused by stress and strain arising out of his employment during the period January 18, 1965, through March 14, 1980. The other asserted a back injury during the month of August 1979, stemming from an “altercation.” Neither injury nor any of the parties or their attorneys nor any prospective witness had or has any connection with the County or City of Ventura. Mr. Beteag resides in Riverside; his services were performed in and around Anaheim; City’s offices, of course, are in Anaheim;…