Alvarez v. WCAB

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Filed 8/12/2010 opinion on rehearing CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT DIVISION FIVE CARLOS ALVAREZ, No. B218847 Petitioner, (W.C.A.B. Nos. ADJ3636557, LAO0863476) v. WORKERS COMPENSATION APPEALS BOARD; STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND et al., Respondents. PROCEEDINGS to review a decision of the Workers Compensation Appeals Board. Annulled and remanded. Law Offices of Carl A. Feldman, Carl A. Feldman, Susan Garrett for Petitioner. Suzanne Ah-Tye, Patricia Brown Hein and David M. Goi for Respondents State Compensation Insurance Fund and Andromeda Entertainment Inc. No appearance for Respondent Workers Compensation Appeals Board. 1 In a workers compensation proceeding for death benefits, a panel qualified medical evaluator (Lab. Code, § 4062.2)1 requested a copy of certain records in an ex parte telephone conversation with defense counsel. The claimant objected to the ex parte communication and petitioned, inter alia, for a new panel qualified medical evaluator under section 4062.3, subdivision (f), which prohibits ex parte communications between a party and a panel qualified medical evaluator and, in the event of a violation, allows the other party to seek a new panel qualified medical evaluator from another panel. The Workers Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) denied the petition, reasoning that the ex parte communication was not prohibited by the statute because the communication was initiated by the panel qualified medical evaluator, not a party, and involved administrative, not substantive matters or the merits of the claim. The claimant petitioned for writ of review, contending that section 4062.3, subdivision (f) explicitly precludes any ex parte communication between a panel qualified medical evaluator and a party and that the WCAB may not add exceptions not contained in the statute. Claimant also asserted that the failure to enforce the prohibition against the ex parte communications denied him due process of law and was not based on substantial evidence. We hold that section 4062.3 expressly prohibits ex parte communications with a panel qualified medical evaluator, with no exception based on the initiator of the communication or for administrative matters. Nevertheless, because a certain degree of informality in workers compensation procedures has been recognized, not every conceivable ex parte communication permits a party to obtain a new evaluation from another panel qualified medical evaluator. We remand the matter to the WCAB to reconsider the matter in view of our interpretation of the applicable statute. 1 All further statutory references are to the Labor Code unless otherwise indicated. 2 FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND Respondent Andromeda Entertainment, Inc. (respondent) conducted business under the name Galaxy Ballroom. Maria Parades was a waitress for Galaxy Ballroom. She died from intracerebellar hemorrhage and hypertension on September 21, 2005. Carlos Alvarez (Alvarez or petitioner), her widower and guardian at litem of their two minor children, filed a claim for workers compensation death benefits, alleging that Parades s death was caused by her work. The workers compensation insurer, State Compensation Insurance Fund (Fund), denied the claim. Donald Miller, M.D., was selected as a panel qualified medical evaluator pursuant to section 4062.2.2 Dr. Miller issued a medical report dated September 20, 2008. On December 4, 2008, Dr. Miller testified in his deposition that medical records indicated that Parades suffered from stress, severe headaches, and possible initial cerebral bleeding approximately three months before her death, and that one of Parades s sisters had said that a possible source of Parades s stress was the alleged sexual abuse by Alvarez of his daughter that had resulted in a restraining order against Alvarez. Dr. Miller, however, could not specify the medical record or cite the page that contained the sister s statement. Dr. Miller also testified that he may have obtained from an investigative report or background report information that one of Parades s sisters had never heard Parades complain of harassment at work, but apparently Dr. Miller s 2 Section 4062.2, subdivision (b) states in part: If either party requests a medical evaluation pursuant to Section 4060, 4061, or 4062, either party may commence the selection process for an agreed medical evaluator . . . . If no agreement is reached . . . either party may request the assignment of a three-member panel of qualified medical evaluators to conduct a comprehensive medical evaluation. Section 4062.2, subdivision (c) adds in part: Within 10 days of assignment of the panel by the administrative director, the parties shall confer and attempt to agree upon an agreed medical evaluator from the panel. If the parties have not agreed . . . each party may then strike one name from the panel. The remaining qualified medical evaluator shall serve as the medical evaluator. 3 medical report did not identify any investigative or background report as one of the documents he received or upon which he relied. Dr. Miller said that the report may be . . . put away with all these records there on the side, and that he would have to go through that whole stack. Dr. Miller could not identify his source of information in the Review of Medical Records section of his report, which summarized 635 pages of records sent to him by the defense attorney or insurance company. Dr. Miller said he would be willing to review and clarify the records he had received or relied upon as required by section 4062.3, subdivision (d), including eight pages described only as miscellaneous records. 3 On December 5, 2008, Dr. Miller telephoned the defense attorney for the Fund who had attended Dr. Miller s deposition. Dr. Miller stated that the records could not be located and requested another copy. In a letter dated the same day, defense counsel wrote counsel for Alvarez that, at the conclusion of Dr. Miller s deposition, the parties and Dr. Miller had agreed that Dr. Miller would more specifically describe the 635 pages of records he reviewed, as he believed he still had them. Defense counsel then said, I just received a brief telephone call from Dr. Miller who stated that the records have not been found and presumably were shredded by his staff after his review. Defense counsel suggested that the records would have to be resent if the parties desired more specificity, and that the adjuster should be contacted directly. In a letter dated December 9, 2008, counsel for Alvarez responded that defense counsel had clearly violated the Labor Code by having an ex parte conversation with the Panel QME. Alvarez subsequently filed a petition objecting to the ex parte communication between Dr. Miller and defense counsel. Alvarez requested that Dr. Miller s report be stricken; that a new panel qualified medical evaluator be selected; 3 Section 4062.3, subdivision (d) provides: In any formal medical evaluation, the agreed or qualified medical evaluator shall identify the following: (1) All information received from the parties. (2) All information reviewed in preparation of the report. (3) All information relied upon in the formulation of his or her opinion. 4 and that penalties and sanctions be imposed, including costs and attorneys fees under sections 4062.3 and 5813.4 At trial, defense counsel testified that Dr. Miller called on her direct line and advised that his office could not locate some records previously sent. Defense counsel testified further that telephone calls from doctors are not customary, and it took a couple of beats to identify the caller. Defense counsel s practice is to terminate an inappropriate call as soon as possible. When defense counsel realized who was calling, she terminated the call as soon as possible. She testified that the call lasted less than one minute. Defense counsel informed Dr. Miller that counsel for Alvarez would be contacted to see how getting another copy of records to the doctor should be handled. Defense counsel advised Dr. Miller that he should not be calling directly. According to 4 Subdivisions (e) through (g) of section 4062.3 provide in part: (e) All communications with an agreed medical evaluator or a qualified medical evaluator selected from a panel before a medical evaluation shall be in writing and shall be served on the opposing party 20 days in advance of the evaluation. Any subsequent communication with the medical evaluator shall be in writing and shall be served on the opposing party when sent to the medical evaluator. [¶] (f) Ex parte communication with an agreed medical evaluator or a qualified medical evaluator selected from a panel is prohibited. If a party communicates with the agreed medical evaluator or a qualified medical evaluator in violation of subdivision (e), the aggrieved party may elect to terminate the medical evaluation and seek a new evaluation from another qualified medical evaluator to be selected according to Section 4062.1 or 4062.2, as applicable, or proceed with the initial evaluation. [¶] (g) The party making the communication prohibited by this section shall be subject to being charged with contempt before the appeals board and shall be liable for the costs incurred by the aggrieved party as a result of the prohibited communication, including the cost of the medical evaluation, additional discovery costs, and attorney s fees for related discovery. Section 5813, subdivision (a), provides: (a) The workers compensation referee or appeals board may order a party, the party s attorney, or both, to pay any reasonable expenses, including attorney s fees and costs, incurred by another party as a result of badfaith actions or tactics that are frivolous or solely intended to cause unnecessary delay. In addition, a workers compensation referee or the appeals board, in its sole discretion, may order additional sanctions not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) to be transmitted to the General Fund. 5 defense counsel, Dr. Miller only requested medical documents that Dr. Miller s office could not locate, and there was no discussion about the merits of the case or anything else. Immediately after the call, defense counsel sent a letter to opposing counsel referring to the conversation and stating that as a result, if opposing counsel desired more specificity, the documents would have to be resent to Dr. Miller and that opposing counsel should contact the adjuster. The workers compensation administrative law judge (WCJ) issued Findings And Order that there was no improper ex parte communication between defense counsel and the panel qualified medical evaluator in violation of section 4062.3. The WCJ also denied Alvarez s petition to strike Dr. Miller s report and request for penalties and sanctions. In the opinion on decision, the WCJ explained that the Findings And Order were based on the credible and unrebutted testimony of defense counsel. Alvarez petitioned the WCAB for reconsideration, contending that Dr. Miller s ex parte conversation with defense counsel regarding the records violated the express provisions of section 4062.3. Alvarez contended further that the WCJ exceeded his authority by adding exceptions to the plain language of section 4062.3, which prohibits all ex parte communications with the panel qualified medical evaluator, unless by the employee or employee s dependent if the employee is deceased, in connection with an examination. Alvarez noted that the new qualified medical evaluator regulations also prohibit all ex parte communications and that a single violation may result in a penalty. (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 8, §§ 35, subd. (b)(1), 41, subd. (b), 60, subd. (b)(7).) In the report on reconsideration (or alternatively for removal of the matter to the WCAB), the WCJ stated that if every ex parte communication with a panel qualified medical evaluator violated section 4062.3, administrative matters such as scheduling appointments, confirming appearances or receipt of records would require conference calls or correspondences between parties, which requirement would be contrary to meeting statutory deadlines and providing benefits to employees expeditiously. The WCJ explained that ex parte communications are not prohibited or improper when they involve 6 only administrative or procedural matters and not the merits of the case or when either side gains an advantage. The WCAB denied Alvarez s petition for reconsideration. The WCAB considered the matter to involve a substantive right, and therefore the order was properly challenged by petition for reconsideration. The WCAB said that even if the determination of the issue was not a final order, it would have denied the petition for removal of the matter to the WCAB. The WCAB agreed with the WCJ s report that the ex parte communication was initiated by Dr. Miller and concerned an administrative rather than a substantive matter. The WCAB explained that, The purpose of section 4062.3 is to protect the impartiality of the medical-legal process, and a party who initiates communication without prior notice to the opposing party may be perceived by the QME as attempting to influence the process. That did not happen here. (See Carchidi v. Workers Comp. Appeals Bd. (1998) 63 Cal.Comp.Cases 291 [writ denied].) 5 The WCAB added that the ex parte communication related back to an administrative matter discussed at the deposition, which discussion was not ex parte. The WCAB also concluded that section 4062.3 is concerned with a party initiating an ex parte communication, which did not occur here. Alvarez, in seeking judicial review of the order denying reconsideration and dismissing the petition for removal to the WCAB, requests that order be annulled. A. Standard of Review and Statutory Interpretation We review a decision by the WCAB based on factual findings under the substantial evidence standard of review. (Gaytan v. Workers Comp. Appeals Bd. (2003) 109 Cal.App.4th 200, 214.) While workers compensation is liberally construed with 5 In Carchidi v. Workers Comp. Appeals Bd., supra, 63 Cal.Comp.Cases 291, the WCAB determined that an agreed medical evaluator s report was admissible to determine that the employee s injury did not arise out of or in the course of employment when a job analysis was sent by the defendant ex parte to the medical evaluator with no intent to influence the physician s opinion, the medical report was not admitted to determine qualified injured worker status, and the employee did not attempt to end the evaluation for months after receiving the report. 7 the purpose of extending benefits to industrially injured workers (§ 3202; Arriaga v. County of Alameda (1995) 9 Cal.4th 1055, 1065 [40 Cal.Rptr.2d 116, 892 P.2d 150]), an appellate court is not bound to accept factual findings if unreasonable, illogical, arbitrary, improbable, or inequitable considering the entire record and overall statutory scheme. . . . [¶] In contrast, interpretation of governing statutes is decided de novo by the appellate court, even though the WCAB s construction is entitled to great weight unless clearly erroneous. (Boehm & Associates v. Workers Comp. Appeals Bd. (1999) 76 Cal.App.4th 513, 515-516 [90 Cal.Rptr.2d 486] (Boehm); Ralphs Grocery Co. v. Workers Comp. Appeals Bd. (1995) 38 Cal.App.4th 820, 828 [45 Cal.Rptr.2d 197] (Ralphs Grocery Co.).) When interpreting a statute, the Legislature s intent should be determined and given effect. (Moyer v. Workmen s Comp. Appeals Bd. (1973) 10 Cal.3d 222, 230 [110 Cal.Rptr. 144, 514 P.2d 1224] (Moyer).) The best indicator of legislative intent is the plain meaning of the statutory language, when clear and unambiguous. (DuBois v. Workers Comp. Appeals Bd. (1993) 5 Cal.4th 382, 387-388 [20 Cal.Rptr.2d 523, 853 P.2d 978] (DuBois); Moyer, supra, 10 Cal.3d at p. 230; Boehm, supra, 76 Cal.App.4th at p. 516.) Finally, the statute should be interpreted consistently with its intended purpose, and harmonized within the statutory framework as a whole. (DuBois, supra, 5 Cal.4th at p. 388.) (Gaytan v. Workers Comp. Appeals Bd., supra, 109 Cal.App.4th at pp. 214215; see Signature Fruit Co. v. Workers Comp. Appeals Bd. (2006) 142 Cal.App.4th 790, 800-801.) B. Interpretation and Application of Statutory Language Section 4062.3, subdivision (e) provides in pertinent part, All communications with an agreed medical evaluator or a qualified medical evaluator selected from a panel before a medical evaluation shall be in writing and shall be served on the opposing party. Any subsequent communication with the medical evaluator shall be in writing and shall be served on the opposing party. Section 4062.3, subdivision (f) begins by stating, Ex parte communication with an agreed medical evaluator or qualified medical evaluator 8 selected from a panel is prohibited. That section adds that if there is such a communication,6 the aggrieved party may seek a new evaluation from another evaluator. The statutory language clearly evidences the intent of the Legislature to prohibit unauthorized ex parte communication, whether written or oral, between a party and an agreed or panel qualified medical evaluator. The regulations pertaining to qualified medical evaluators, although effective February 17, 2009 after the event in issue here reflect the prohibition of ex parte communications with a panel qualified medical evaluator as set forth in section 4062.3,7 and provide that even a single violation can result in discipline.8 6 A communication refers to any writing or conversation from one person to another or between persons. (Garner, A Dictionary of Modern Legal Usage (2d ed. 1995) 180; see Black s Law Dict. (9th ed. 2009) p. 316, col. 1 [A communication is [t]he expression or exchange of information by speech, writing, gestures, or conduct; the process of bringing an idea to another s perception ].) A communication has been interpreted to include a conversation. (People v. Gibbons (1989) 215 Cal.App.3d 1204, 1208 [applying Pen. Code, §§ 630, 632 [ While communication and conversation are similar in their meaning, conversation refers to a spoken exchange of thoughts, opinions, and feelings while communication refers more broadly to the exchange of thoughts, messages, or information by any means ]; see also People v. Drennan (2000) 84 Cal.App.4th 1349, 1358.) 7 California Code of Regulations, title 8, section 41(b) provides: Evaluators selected from a QME panel provided by the Administrative Director shall not engage in ex parte communication in violation of Labor Code section 4062.3. California Code of Regulations, title 8, section 35(b)(1) provides: All communications by the parties with the evaluator shall be in writing and sent simultaneously to the opposing party when sent to the medical director, except as otherwise provided in subdivisions (c), (k) and (l) of this section. California Code of Regulations, title 8, section 35(k) provides: The Appeals Board shall retain jurisdiction in all cases to determine disputes arising from objections and whether ex parte contact in violation of Labor Code section 4062.3 or this section of Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations has occurred. If any party communicates with an evaluator in violation of Labor Code section 4062.3, the Medical Director shall provide the aggrieved party with a new panel in which to select a new QME or the aggrieved party may elect to proceed with the original evaluator. Oral or written communications by the employee, or if the employee is deceased by the employee s dependent, made in the course of the examination or made at the request of the evaluator 9 Section 4062.3 does not provide that some classes of ex parte communications are permissible, as suggested by the WCJ and WCAB. Although section 4062.3 sets forth detailed procedures by which parties are to disclose information and records to the medical evaluator and provides remedies for violations of those procedures, the statute does not distinguish between ex parte communications on the basis of whether the communication was initiated by a party or by the medical evaluator. To hold that the statute does not proscribe ex parte communications initiated by the medical evaluator would suggest that a party is excused from the proscriptions of section 4062.3 and may discuss the merits of the case with the medical evaluator based solely on the fortuity that the medical evaluator initiated the conversation. Although section 4062.3, subdivision (f) says, If a party communicates with the agreed medical evaluator or the qualified medical evaluator in violation of subdivision (e), the aggrieved party has a remedy, that provision does not specify that the prohibited communication must, as the WCAB said, be initiated by the party. The provisions prohibit ex parte communications without any suggestion that those initiated by the medical evaluator are exempt. To allow unfettered ex parte discussions if initiated by the medical evaluator would undermine the statute. In addition, section 4062.3 does not state that ex parte communications are permissible if the subject matter is administrative or procedural rather than substantive or on the merits, or otherwise gives a party an advantage. The only in connection with the examination shall not provide grounds for a new evaluator unless the Appeals Board has made a specific finding of an impermissible ex parte communication. 8 California Code of Regulations, title 8, section 60(b) provides in part: The Administrative Director may, based on a complaint by the Medical Director, and following a hearing pursuant to section 61of Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations, suspend, terminate or place on probation a QME found in violation of a statutory or administrative duty as described in the Administrative Director Sanction Guidelines for QMEs under section 65 of Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations. Such violations include, but are not limited to [¶] . . . [¶] (7) one finding by the Appeals Board of ex parte contact by the QME prohibited by Labor Code section 4062.3. 10 statutory exception to the proscription against ex parte communications is set forth in section 4062.3, subdivision (h),9 which concerns communication by the employee or the deceased employee s dependent in the course of or in connection with the examination. Neither the WCJ nor the WCAB may graft exceptions to clear statutory prohibition language to accomplish a presumed legislative purpose or intent that does not appear on the face of the statute or from the legislative history. (See Burden v. Snowden (1992) 2 Cal.4th 556, 562; California Teachers Assn. v. Governing Board of Rialto Unified School Dist. (1997) 14 Cal.4th 627, 633; California Teachers Assn. v. San Diego Community College Dist. (1981) 28 Cal.3d 692, 698.) There is nothing in the legislative history of which we are aware that supports the interpretation by the WCJ or WCAB. When the Legislature has intended to provide an exception to the prohibitions on ex parte communications, it has expressly so stated. For example, as noted, section 4062.3, subdivision (h) states, Subdivisions (e) and (f) shall not apply to written communications by the employee or, if the employee is deceased, the employee s dependent, in the course of the examination or at the request of the evaluator in connection with the examination. The Legislature also has set forth exceptions to prohibitions on ex parte communications in other statutes. Under the Administrative Procedures Act (Gov. Code, § 11340 et seq.), the Legislature provided that ex parte communications otherwise precluded are permissible, inter alia, if the communication concerns a matter of procedure or practice, including a request for a continuance, that is not in controversy. (Gov. Code, § 11430.20, subd. (b); see Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control v. Alcoholic Beverage Control Appeals Bd. (2006) 40 Cal.4th 1, 10.) Business and Professions Code section 19872, subdivisions (a), (b) and (c), prohibits ex parte communications with the Gambling Control Commission upon the merits of an application. Public Resources Code section 30324 allows ex parte communications with 9 Section 4062.3, subdivision (h) states: Subdivisions (e) and (f) shall not apply to oral or written communications by the employee or, if the employee is deceased, the employee s dependent, in the course of the examination or at the request of the evaluator in connection with the examination. 11 a Coastal Commission member only if disclosure is made within a specified period. (See also, e.g., Water Code, § 8578; Pub. Res. Code, §§ 663.1, 663.2, 30324; Pub. Util. Code, §§ 1701.1, subds. (a), (c)(4), 1701.3, subd. (c).) The California Rules of Professional Conduct prohibit lawyers from having ex parte communications with a judge upon the merits of a contested matter. (Rules Prof. Conduct, rule 5-300(B).) The California Code of Judicial Ethics provides that a judge shall not initiate, permit, or consider an ex parte application communications . . . except. . . . (d) A judge may initiate ex parte communications, where circumstances require, for scheduling, administrative purposes, or emergencies that do not deal with substantive matters so long as certain conditions are met. (Cal. Code Jud. Ethics, canon 3B(7)(d).) The California Ethics Standards for Neutral Arbitrators in Contractual Arbitration, promulgated pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 1281.85, subdivision (a) provides in Standard 14, subdivision (a) that an arbitrator must not initiate, permit, or consider any ex parte communications, except that (b) [a]n arbitrator may communicate with a party in the absence of other parties about administrative matters, such as setting the time and place of hearings or making other arrangements for the conduct of the proceedings, as long as the arbitrator reasonably believes that the communication will not result in a procedural or tactical advantage for any party. None of these express exceptions is contained in section 4062.3. Moreover, California Code of Regulations, title 8, section 10718 prohibits ex parte communications with a regular physician (section 5701) or qualified medical evaluator when the employee is unrepresented (section 5703.5) with respect to the merits of the case unless ordered to do so by the Workers Compensation Appeals Board. This regulation, or a variation of it, has been in effect for a number of years.10 With this background, the Legislature in section 4062.3 prohibited ex parte communications 10 See, e.g., former California Code of Regulations, title 8, section 10718 (1981); Boardman v. Industrial Acc. Com. (1956) 140 Cal.App.2d 273, 275-277 [regulation in effect then had no limitation for the merits for ex parte communications]. 12 without limiting the prohibition to communications on the merits. That further suggests that the Legislature did not intend such a limitation in connection with section 4062.3. With regard to ex parte communications with a judge or arbitrator, the judge or arbitrator, based on his or her training and experience, would be expected to be able to draw a distinction between purely procedural and scheduling matters on the one hand and matters affecting the merits on the other hand. So it is understandable why the Legislature carved out the exceptions to ex parte communications in that context. But medical evaluators do not have the same background and experience that judges and arbitrators have to draw such distinctions. In a field that is dependent on expert medical opinions, the impartiality and appearance of impartiality of the panel qualified medical evaluator is critical. Thus, there are justifications for a strict rule prohibiting all ex parte communications in this context. Under the rule proposed by the WCJ and WCAB, the mere act of inquiring into who initiated the communication or whether the subject of an ex parte communication was substantive or procedural or administrative undermines the appearance of impartiality and the legitimacy of the medical evaluation process. It is to avoid such difficulties that section 4062.3 prohibits ex parte communications and mandates that all communications between counsel and the medical evaluator shall be in writing and shall be served on the opposing party when sent to the medical evaluator. (§ 4062.3, subd. (e), italics added.) The WCJ relied upon Mathew Zaheri Corp. v. New Motor Vehicle Bd. (1997) 55 Cal.App.4th 1305, in which the court affirmed a trial court decision denying a writ of mandamus to set aside a New Motor Vehicle Board decision because of an ex parte communication between the franchisor s counsel and the administrative law judges. Counsel for the franchisor had told the administrative law judge that he feared for his safety. The trial court determined that the communication did not violate the terms of the Administrative Procedures Act then in effect and applicable to the Vehicle Code. The court said the ex parte communication was a non-prejudicial breach of legal ethics, but did not constitute a statutory violation, and was not a miscarriage of justice. Here, in 13 contrast, we deal with a purported violation of an express statutory provision and not just an ethical lapse. Generally, as here, a violation of an unqualified prohibition on ex parte communications requires no showing of prejudice to invoke the appropriate remedy. (See Rondon v. Alcoholic Beverage Control Appeals Bd. (2007) 151 Cal.App.4th 1274, 1290; see Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control v. Alcoholic Beverage Control Appeals Bd., supra, 40 Cal.4th at p. 17.) When ex parte communications are not unqualifiedly prohibited, prejudice may need to be shown to invoke a remedy. (See Mathew Zaheri Corp. v. New Motor Vehicle Bd., supra, 55 Cal.App.4th 1305.) The difficulty in determining the actual content of the communication and its effects may render a prejudice analysis ineffectual. Contrary to respondents argument, whether a party is an aggrieved party under section 4062.3 has nothing to do with prejudice. It is concerned with whether the party has standing and is a proper party to seek review. (See, e.g., County of Alameda v. Carleson (1971) 5 Cal.3d 730, 737; Hensley v. Hensley (1987) 190 Cal.App.3d 895, 898-899; San Francisco Unified School Dist. v. State of California (1982) 131 Cal.App.3d 54.) Nevertheless, an ex parte communication may be so insignificant and inconsequential that any resulting repercussion would be unreasonable. We should not interpret or apply statutory language in a manner that will lead to absurd results. (In re Michele D. (2002) 29 Cal.4th 600, 606 [ the language of a statute should not be given a literal meaning if doing so would result in absurd consequences that the Legislature did not intend ]; People v. Loeun (1997) 17 Cal. 4th 1, 9; People v. Ventura Refining Co. (1928) 204 Cal. 286, 292 [ General terms should be so limited in their application as not to lead to an absurd consequence ]; People v. Superior Court (Blanquel) (2000) 85 Cal.App.4th 768, 771.) Surely a mere ex parte greeting prior to proceedings or ex parte comment about the weather or traffic would not invoke the remedy under section 4062.3. This being so, neither should a communication unrelated to the case or so peripheral to the operative proceedings as to be insignificant. A certain amount of informality is anticipated in Workers Compensation Act proceedings. (§ 5708 [the WCJ and WCAB 14 may make inquiry in the manner . . . which is best calculated to ascertain the substantial rights of the parties and carry out justly the spirit and provisions of this division ]; § 5709 [ no informality in any proceeding or in the manner of taking testimony shall invalidate any order, decision, award, or rule made and filed as specified in this division ]; see Northwestern R. Co. v. Industrial Acc. Com. (1920) 184 Cal. 484, 489 [ The Workmen s Compensation Act and the constitution both expressly require the commission to proceed without formality ]; County of Sacramento v. Workers Comp. Appeals Bd. (2000) 77 Cal.App.4th 1114, 1116 [in the workers compensation system, [p]rocedural informality that would make the civil practitioner shudder is normal. But even a flexible system must have structure ].) Here, Dr. Miller called defense counsel requesting copies of records. Defense counsel said that she told Dr. Miller he should not be contacting her directly, that she would contact counsel for Alvarez about the communication, and that she terminated the call as soon as possible within one minute. This communication might be so inconsequential so as not to be covered by section 4062.3. On the other hand, the connection between the call by Dr. Miller and his earlier testimony, any suggestion that Dr. Miller and defense counsel agreed on how to proceed, and Dr. Miller s willingness to initiate an ex parte communication with defense counsel may suggest that the remedy set forth in section 4062.3, subdivision (f) is required. The WCAB should reevaluate its conclusion based on the principles we have discussed and not based on any distinction between administrative and substantive nature of the communication or on who initiated the communication. In view of our conclusion, we do not reach the due process or substantial evidence issues. 15 DISPOSITION The order is annulled and the matter is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. No costs are awarded. CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION MOSK, J. We concur: ARMSTRONG, Acting P. J. FERNS, J.ï ª ï ª Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court, assigned by the Chief Justice pursuant to article VI, section 6 of the California Constitution. 16

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