3rd DCA Hears Oral Argument on Constitutional Challenge to IMR

The 3rd District Court of Appeal on Monday heard oral argument in a constitutional challenge to the independent medical review process mandated by Senate Bill 863. The court granted review to Ramirez v. WCAB (SCIF) in May 2015, before the 1st DCA issued its decision in Stevens v. WCAB (Outspoken Entertainment), which found the IMR process passed constitutional muster. The California Supreme Court denied review of the Stevens matter in February 2016, and last November the U.S. Supreme Court also declined to hear the case. The Ramirez case languished at the 3rd DCA while the Stevens...