Source: https://www.pacode.com/secure/data/034/chapter131/s131.35.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 01:02:34+00:00

Document:
034 Pa. Code § 131.35. Amendments to pleadings.
§ 131.35. Amendments to pleadings.
(a) A party has the right to amend a pleading at any time in a proceeding before a judge, unless the judge determines that another party has established prejudice as a result of the amendment.
(b) Subsection (a) supersedes 1 Pa. Code § § 33.41, 33.42, 35.40 and 35.4835.51.
The provisions of this § 131.35 amended under sections 401.1 and 435(a) and (c) of the Workers Compensation Act (77 P. S. § § 710 and 991(a) and (c)); section 2205 of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § 565); and section 414 of The Pennsylvania Occupational Disease Act (77 P. S. § 1514).
The provisions of this § 131.35 adopted March 29, 1991, effective March 30, 1991, 21 Pa.B. 1401; amended December 6, 2002, effective December 7, 2002, 32 Pa.B. 6043. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (289733) to (289734).
The workers compensation judges decision not to allow an amendment to the claimants petition to include a specific loss claim after the close of the record because it would prejudice her employers by depriving them of a full and fair opportunity to litigate the issue of the alleged specific loss, was not abuse of discretion. Roberts v. Workers Compensation Appeal Board, 719 A.2d 847 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1998).
An amendment to petition filed after expiration of statute of limitations is not per se prejudicial; party opposing amendment must show prejudice. Shafer v. Workmens Compensation Appeal Board, 621 A.2d 1125 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1993).
The employer failed to establish that it would be prejudiced by the amendment of claimants petition setting forth an alternative theory of causation. The information upon which the amendment is based was in the employers possession since the original claim was filed. The claimant need not demonstrate the employers fraud as a basis for the amendment. Mauger and Co. v. Workmens Compensation Appeal Board, 598 A.2d 1035 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1991).
The rule allowing amendments to pleadings, like all rules governing pleadings in workers compensation cases, it is to be liberally construed. Thomas v. Workers Compensation Appeal Board, 787 A.2d 1128 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2001).

References: § 131

§ 131
 § 33
 § 131
 § 710
 § 565
 § 1514
 § 131
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v.