A writ denied case on lien claimant’s failure to appear results in dismissal of claim
- Posted By: Harvey Brown
- May 1, 2014
This is a writ denied case of the court of Appeal
This is a very significant case for workers’ compensation principles.
The applicant had an industrial injury. The applicant was treated by Lien Claimant. The case-in-chief settled and a lien conference was set. When the lien conference notice came in, the Lien Claimant sent the notice and the file to their general counsel. They did not include instructions for the general counsel to appear at the lien conference.
Lien Claimant believed their general counsel would appear at the lien conference. Neither Lien Claimant nor their general counsel appeared.
The Workers’ Compensation Judge (WCJ) issued a Notice of Intention to Dismiss the lien of $166,399.28 for non-appearance. The Notice was served on Lien Claimant and no timely objection was filed.
The WCJ issued the Dismissal of the lien. The Lien Claimant filed a Petition for Reconsideration. The Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) denied the petition stating the Lien Claimant did not show good cause for their non-appearance.
The Lien Claimant then filed a Writ, which was denied, thus the lien was dismissed.
Case: Miracle Mile Center, LLC v. WCAB