The Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board is seeking applications for two new deputy commissioners, according to a notice posted to the California state employment website.
The WCAB’s website notes that two of three deputy commissioner positions are currently vacant, along with two of seven commissioner positions that have been vacant for more than a year.
Deputy commissioners act as advisers and counsel to the WCAB, and manage and supervise all functions of the Reconsideration Unit. They also manage the training of new attorneys in workers’ compensation law and opinion-writing techniques; prepare written decisions; provide information to workers’ compensation judges regarding the reconsideration process; respond to correspondence from parties to a case, the public and the Legislature; and offer advice and assistance to commissioners in resolving issues, according to the job posting.
Additionally, deputy commissioners manage all functions of the Appellate Unit to ensure timely and appropriate responses are prepared and filed in litigation to protect the WCAB’s jurisdiction, and enforce its rules and procedures. They can also prepare en banc decisions and significant panel decisions, and review cases for legal correctness after the panel of commissioners recommends denying reconsideration and incorporating a workers’ compensation administrative law judge’s report.
The deputies can also participate as board members in the reconsideration process when assigned by the WCAB chair.
The WCAB is looking for candidates who are familiar with its operation, and have knowledge and experience in working with workers’ compensation cases, experience in appellate court cases and filing appeals on workers’ compensation claims.
Applications are due by Dec. 4.
Deputy commissioners have taken on an increasingly important role at the WCAB, which has operated without a full slate of commissioners since at least 2014. The board operated without a chairperson for more than a year until Gov. Jerry Brown in August appointed Katherine Zalweski as chairwoman. The position had been vacant since Ronnie Caplane retired in April 2016.
The WCAB has been short two commissioners since Caplane retired, despite attorneys and injured workers calling on the governor to fill the vacancies.
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John Don Nov 20, 2017 a 4:11 pm PST
Easy decision: Joseph Capurro & William Herreras.....