What the panel ordered
Findings and Awards dated May 15, 2020 rescinded; Zurich American Insurance Company joined as party defendant; Compromise and Release filed May 26, 2021 approved; award made in favor of the applicant against Hartford Fire Insurance Company as specified in the Compromise and Release.
Petition for reconsideration filed by Hartford Fire Insurance Company challenging WCJ's Findings and Awards dated May 15, 2020; WCJ recommended denial of reconsideration; parties participated in commissioners' settlement conference; Zurich American Insurance Company joined as party defendant; compromise and release agreement filed and approved.
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.
The WCJ's Findings and Awards were rescinded and Zurich American Insurance Company was joined as a party defendant, with the Compromise and Release approved, resolving the reconsideration petition issues.
From the decision · page 1I. Defendant, Hartford Fire Insurance Company (Hartford,) petitions for reconsideration of the Findings and Awards issued by the workers' compensation administrative law judge (WCJ) in these cases on May 15, 2020. In those decisions, the WCJ awarded applicant temporary and permanent disability compensation and further medical treatment against Hartford, which had previously stipulated to have provided workers' compensation insurance coverage to the employer Fred Loya Insurance, at the time of applicant's injuries. Hartford contends in its petition for reconsideration that the WCJ erred in not relieving Hartford of its stipulation to insurance coverage and in not joining Zurich American Insurance Company (Zurich) as a party defendant. Applicant filed an answer contending that Hartford's petition for reconsideration should be denied. The WCJ issued a report in which she recommended that reconsideration be denied. Subsequently, at our request applicant and Hartford participated in a commissioners' settlement conference. Zurich also participated in the commissioners' settlement conference but has never been joined as a party defendant in these cases. Applicant, Hartford and Zurich agreed