What the panel ordered
WCJ's Findings and Award of October 25, 2019 rescinded; new findings and award issued for total dependency benefits
Petition for Reconsideration granted to study legal and factual issues; decision after reconsideration issued
What was disputed, and how it came out
Each issue the panel decided, with the reasoning it gave. An outcome is what this panel did on this record — not a rule, and not a prediction.
Applicant was found to be wholly dependent on decedent at the time of injury based on uncontroverted evidence and testimony, despite prior receipt of Pell grant money, which was not considered to affect dependency at the time of injury.
From the decision · page 4Accordingly, there is substantial, uncontroverted evidence in the record establishing that applicant was wholly dependent on decedent on decedent's July 22, 2011 date of injury. It is therefore our decision after reconsideration to rescind the WCJ's decision, and issue new findings of fact that applicant was wholly dependent for support on decedent on the date of injury, and a new award consistent with section 4702, subdivision (a)(3).
The facts that decided it
What the panel treated as outcome-determinative, and which side it favoured.