What the panel ordered
Petition for Reconsideration granted; Amended Findings and Orders of November 18, 2025 rescinded; Petition for Disqualification granted; WCJ Peter M. Christiano disqualified; matter returned for reassignment to a different WCJ.
Petition for Reconsideration and Petition for Disqualification filed by lien representative Patrick Petronella against WCJ Peter M. Christiano's Amended Findings and Orders of November 18, 2025, leading to Appeals Board review and correction.
This docket was decided more than once. Shown here is the latest released decision; we also hold September 12, 2023.
What was disputed, and how it came out
Each issue the panel decided, with the reasoning it gave. An outcome is what this panel did on this record — not a rule, and not a prediction.
The Appeals Board found insufficient evidence to support the WCJ's imposition of sanctions against lien representative Patrick Petronella and concluded that the WCJ's actions raised doubts about fairness and due process, warranting disqualification and reassignment.
From the decision · page 18Accordingly, for the reasons discussed above, we do not believe that the evidence supports the imposition of sanctions against Petronella, and we grant the Petition for Reconsideration and rescind the F&O and grant the Petition for Disqualification and order that the matter be returned to the Presiding WCJ for assignment to a new WCJ.