1. (a) Any person in whom any right to relief is alleged to exist may appear, or be joined, as an applicant in any case or controversy before the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board.
2. (b) Any person against whom any right to relief is alleged to exist may be joined as a defendant.
3. (c) In death cases, all persons who may be dependents shall either join or be joined as applicants so that the entire liability of the employer or the insurer may be determined in one proceeding.
4. (d) If an objection is received within 10 days of service of a petition for joinder or a notice of intention to order joinder, the workers' compensation judge shall consider the objection before joining the party and, if requested in the objection, shall provide the objector the opportunity to be heard before ordering joinder.

The Appeals Board or a workers' compensation judge may order the joinder of additional parties not named in the Application for Adjudication of Claim, whose presence is necessary for the full adjudication of the case. A party shall not be joined until 10 days after service of either a petition for joinder by a party or a notice of intention to order joinder issued by a workers' compensation judge, unless the party to be joined waives its right to this notice period. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board may designate the party or parties who are to make service.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 133 and 5307, Labor Code. Reference: Sections 5300, 5303, 5307.5, 5316, 5500 and 5503, Labor Code.

History

1. New section filed 12-17-2019; operative 1-1-2020. Submitted to OAL for printing only pursuant to Government Code section 11351 (Register 2019, No. 51).