§ 10629. Filing and Listing of Exhibits.

(a) Proposed exhibits shall be filed in accordance with the provisions of section 10233 and 10603.

(b) At every mandatory settlement conference, regular hearing, expedited hearing, and conference at which any issue will be submitted for decision, each party or lien claimant shall submit, and shall personally serve on each other appearing party or appearing lien claimant, a list of the exhibits that the party or lien claimant proposes to offer in evidence.

(1) If any such hearing is continued, a new list identifying all of the party or lien claimant's proposed exhibits (including all previously listed exhibits that the party or lien claimant still intends to offer, and any new exhibits) shall be prepared and served, with the exceptions that: (A) any exhibit already admitted in evidence, or marked in evidence but not admitted, need not be re-listed; (B) if the previous list was accepted for filing and scanned into EAMS, and no changes have been made to the previous list, a new list need not be prepared and served; and (C) if the previous list was served (but not accepted for filing and scanned into EAMS), and no changes have been made to the previous list, a new list need not be served, but the list still must be filed.

(2) If a list of exhibits is being submitted after an initial mandatory settlement conference, the list shall separately identify:

(A) the exhibits that the party listed at the time of the initial mandatory settlement conference; and

(B) the exhibits that the party did not list at the time of the initial mandatory settlement conference.

(c) If a party or lien claimant with a currently pending issue fails to appear after proper notice at any hearing described in subdivision (b), even if the party or lien claimant was excused from appearing, then:

(1) the non-appearing party or lien claimant with a currently pending issue shall forthwith file and serve its exhibit list, but consideration of its exhibits shall be subject to the limitations or evidentiary sanctions set forth in section 10562; and

(2) the appearing party(ies) or lien claimant(s) shall forthwith serve their exhibit list(s) on the non-appearing party or lien claimant.

For purposes of this subdivision, a party or lien claimant will be deemed to have a “currently pending issue” if an issue directly related to that party or lien claimant has been raised in a declaration of readiness and that issue has not been resolved by a stipulation or adjudication, it has not been withdrawn (including by failure to raise the issue at the mandatory settlement conference or trial), and it has not been judicially deferred.

(d) Each exhibit listed must be clearly identified by author/provider, date, and title or type (e.g., “the July 1, 2008 medical report of John Doe, M.D. (3 pages)”). Each medical report, medical-legal report, medical record, or other paper or record having a different author/provider and/or a different date is a separate “document” and must be listed as a separate exhibit, with the exception that the following documents may be listed as a single exhibit, unless otherwise ordered by the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board:

(1) excerpted portions of physician, hospital or dispensary records, provided that the party offering the exhibit designates each excerpted portion by the title of the record or document, by the date or dates of treatment or other service(s) covered by the record or document, by the author or authors of the record or document, and by any available page number(s) (e.g., Bates-numbered pages of records or documents photocopied and numbered by a legal copy service). Only the relevant excerpts of physician, hospital or dispensary records shall be admitted in evidence;

(2) excerpted portions of personnel records, wage records and statements, job descriptions, and other business records provided that the party offering the exhibit designates each excerpted portion by the title of the record or document, by the date or dates covered by the record or document, by the author or authors of the record or document, and by any available page number(s) (e.g., Bates-numbered pages of records or documents photocopied and numbered by a legal copy service). Only the relevant excerpts of personnel records, wage records and statements, job descriptions, and other business records shall be admitted in evidence; and

(3) Explanation of Benefits (EOB) letters.

(e) Each exhibit listed must specify an exhibit number or initial that identifies it and the party, parties, or lien claimant offering it (e.g., Applicant's Exhibit 1, 2, 3, etc.; Defendant's Exhibit A, B, C, etc.; Lien Claimant's AA, BB, CC, etc.; Joint Exhibit XX, YY, etc.).

(f) Nothing in this section shall prevent a workers' compensation judge from referring an unrepresented injured employee, dependent or uninsured employer to the Information and Assistance Office to prepare an exhibit list in accordance with the provisions of subdivisions (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e).

HISTORY

1. New section filed 11-17-2008; operative 11-17-2008. Submitted to OAL for printing only (Register 2008, No. 47).

Note

Note: Authority cited: Sections 133, 5307, 5309 and 5708, Labor Code. Reference: Sections 5309 and 5708, Labor Code.