He subsequently petitioned the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) to determine whether the injury was industrial, entitling him to increased benefits. On another occasion, while Pearl was in a toilet stall, his supervisor set off a packet of firecrackers in the stall. Pearl also believed that his supervisor had given him an unfair performance evaluation that had damaged his career. During this period, Pearl also suffered family pressures, including his brother's spousal murder and suicide, which occurred shortly before Pearl began work at the university, and Pearl's own divorce and custody dispute. Pursuant to Government Code section 21166, Pearl petitioned the WCAB for a finding of fact on the issue.

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