Opinion ID: 1159626
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Alleged Procedural Deficiency

Text: Hartford argues that the Board's decision in this case should be overturned because the decision is based in part on the arguments of KLA. According to Hartford, KLA was not a proper party, and the Board, therefore, had no jurisdiction to receive or consider the arguments made by KLA. In order to properly understand Hartford's argument, it is necessary to review the procedural history of this case. The injury in this case occurred August 31, 1993. Solis' initial claim was docketed as Docket No. 190,678. At that time, questions arose as to the financial responsibility for repairs to the glove. On April 2, 1997, a preliminary hearing in Docket No. 190,678 was held to determine financial responsibility for ongoing repairs. The administrative law judge ruled that Hartford was not responsible for repairs because damage to the glove was caused by a new accident for which a new claim would have to be filed. The Board affirmed that preliminary finding. Docket No. 190,678 remained open. In accordance with the decision of the administrative law judge, Solis also filed a new claim, Docket No. 220,773, alleging that the damage to the glove constituted a new accident which now involved Brookover's new carrier, KLA. KLA authorized repair of the glove prosthesis but denied that a new accident had occurred. In this new claim, Solis requested that he be provided with a new glove to wear while the other glove was repaired. The administrative law judge denied the request for the new glove and on review, the Board held that it could not determine the medical necessity of an additional glove in review of a preliminary finding and dismissed the appeal for lack of jurisdiction on May 30, 1997. On January 6, 1998, Docket No. 190,678 and No. 220,773 were consolidated for hearing before the Assistant Director of Workers Compensation. The Assistant Director entered an order which awarded compensation to Solis and also (1) essentially overturned the preliminary findings in Docket No. 190,678 by finding that Hartford was responsible for repairs to the glove and for providing Solis with two functioning gloves and (2) affirmed the preliminary finding in Docket No. 220,773 that the damage to the glove was not a second injury and KLA was not responsible. Hartford appealed the finding in Docket No. 190,678 to the Board. Before the Board, Hartford argued that KLA was no longer a proper party to the proceeding because KLA had been absolved of any liability by the Assistant Director's decision pertaining to Docket No. 220,773 from which no appeal was taken. The Board disagreed and permitted KLA to remain as a party. Hartford alleges that this ruling was in error. According to Hartford, once the Assistant Director had determined that KLA was not responsible for repairs and the claimant did not appeal from that decision, Docket No. 220,773 ended. Hartford argues that at that point, the only issue before the Board concerned Docket No. 190,678 to which KLA was not a party. Thus, Hartford contends the Board's consideration of any arguments made by KLA was erroneous and mandates reversal of the Board's decision. This argument is without merit. It is undisputed that Docket No. 190,678 and No. 220,773 were consolidated. Although only Hartford petitioned the Board for review, K.S.A. 44-551(b)(1) does not limit the Board's scope of review to issues raised in the written request for review. Rather, once a party files a written request for review of the administrative law judge's decision, the Board has the authority to address every issue decided by the administrative law judge. Woodward v. Beech Aircraft Corp., 24 Kan. App.2d 510, 516, 949 P.2d 1149 (1997). See Helms v. Tollie Freightways, Inc., 20 Kan. App.2d 548, 553, 889 P.2d 1151 (1995). Because the two cases were never severed, the Board had jurisdiction to address any of the issues raised in the consolidated cases, and KLA was a proper party. Further, it is clear that in addition to being consolidated, Docket No. 190,678 and No. 220,773 were inextricably intertwined. The damage to the glove and the duty to make repairs were either the responsibility of Hartford or KLA. The Assistant Director's finding in Docket No. 190,678, that Hartford was liable for repairs, necessarily led to the finding in Docket No. 220,773 that KLA was not liable. Were the Board to find that the Assistant Director had erred in holding Hartford liable, the Board would also necessarily have found that the Assistant Director had erred in absolving KLA of liability. Thus, Hartford's argument that KLA was not a proper party and had no stake in the proceedings is without merit.