§ 10999. Arbitrator Fee and Cost Disputes.

Any dispute involving an arbitrator's fee or cost shall be resolved by the presiding workers' compensation judge of the appropriate local office or, in his or her absence, the acting presiding workers' compensation judge.

Any request to resolve a dispute about arbitrator fees or costs must be accompanied by any written agreement pertaining to arbitrator fees or costs and a statement that shall include the nature of the dispute and an itemization of the hours spent in actual arbitration hearing, in preparation for arbitration, and in preparation of the decision. The statement shall also include an itemization of the verifiable costs including use of facility, reporters and transcript preparation.

An arbitrator fee shall not exceed a reasonable amount. In establishing a reasonable fee, the Presiding Workers' Compensation Judge shall consider:

(a) responsibility assumed by the arbitrator;

(b) experience of the arbitrator;

(c) number and complexity of the issues being arbitrated;

(d) time involved; and

(e) expeditiousness and completeness of issue resolution.

The presiding workers' compensation judge of each local office shall maintain statistics on all arbitration fees awarded pursuant to Labor Code section 5273(c) including the amount thereof and rationale or basis for the award pursuant to (a) through (e) herein above.

Arbitration costs will be allowed in a reasonable amount pursuant to Labor Code section 5273, subdivision (a).

HISTORY

1. New section filed 1-12-90; operative 1-12-90 (Register 90, No. 5). This section is exempt from review by OAL pursuant to Government Code section 11351.

2. Change without regulatory effect filed 1-26-90 (Register 90, No. 5).

3. Amendment exempt from OAL review pursuant to Government Code section 11351 filed 12-19-90; operative 1-1-91 (Register 91, No. 7).

4. Amendment of section and Note filed 12-19-2002; operative 1-1-2003. Submitted to OAL for printing only pursuant to Government Code section 11351 (Register 2002, No. 51).

Note

Note: Authority cited: Sections 133 and 5307, Labor Code. Reference: Section 5273(c), Labor Code.