WCAB Rescinds OSAs for Due Process Violations, Disqualifies Judge for Appearance of Bias

The California Workers' Compensation Appeals Board issued an en banc decision that rescinded two dozen orders suspending action on settlements that it said were issued in ways that violated the parties' due process rights. The WCAB in Calvin Gaines et al. v. AMB Aviation Inc. et al. also said the judge's statements that claimants were exploiting the workers' compensation system demonstrated bias requiring disqualification and reassignment of the cases to new judges on remand. Van Nuys Workers' Compensation Judge Karinneh Aslanian between Jan. 23 and April 14 issued orders...