Section 5271 Of Part 3.5. Arbitration From California Labor Code >> Division 4. >> Part 3.5.
5271
. (a) The parties to a dispute submitted for arbitration may
select any eligible attorney from the list prepared by the presiding
workers' compensation judge to serve as arbitrator. However, when the
disputed issue involves insurance coverage, the parties may select
any attorney as arbitrator upon agreement of the parties.
(b) If the parties cannot select an arbitrator by agreement,
either party may request the presiding workers' compensation judge to
assign a panel of five arbitrators selected at random from the list
of eligible attorneys. No more than three arbitrators on a
five-member panel may be defense attorneys, no more than three may be
applicant's attorneys, and no more than two may be retired workers'
compensation judges or appeals board commissioners.
(c) For each party in excess of one party in the capacity of
employer and one party in the capacity of injured employee or lien
claimant, the presiding judge shall randomly select two additional
arbitrators to add to the panel. For each additional party in the
capacity of employer, the presiding judge shall assign a retired
workers' compensation judge or retired appeals board commissioner and
an applicant's attorney. For each additional party in the capacity
of injured employee or lien claimant, the presiding judge shall
assign a retired workers' compensation judge or retired appeals board
commissioner and a defense attorney. For each additional other
party, the presiding judge shall assign two arbitrators to the panel,
in order of rotation from case to case, as follows: a retired
workers' compensation judge or retired appeals board commissioner, an
applicant's attorney, a defense attorney.
(d) A party may petition the presiding workers' compensation judge
to remove a member from the panel pursuant to Section 170.1 of the
Code of Civil Procedure. The presiding workers' compensation judge
shall assign another eligible attorney to replace any member removed
under this subdivision.
(e) Each party or lien claimant shall strike two members from the
panel, and the remaining attorney shall serve as arbitrator.