What the panel ordered
The Appeals Board (en banc) affirmed the WCJ's August 7, 2012 Findings and Order, declining to exercise jurisdiction over applicant's workers' compensation claim based on the forum selection clause in the employment contract.
Applicant petitioned for reconsideration of the WCJ's August 7, 2012 decision; the en banc Appeals Board granted reconsideration and issued this decision affirming the WCJ's decision.
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 held that the forum selection clause in the employment contract was reasonable and enforceable, and that California has a stronger public policy interest in enforcing the parties' forum selection clause than in exercising jurisdiction over the claim. Applicant did not meet the burden to show the clause was unreasonable.
From the decision · page 112 We previously granted reconsideration of the August 7, 2012 Finding and Order of the workers'
The facts that decided it
What the panel treated as outcome-determinative, and which side it favoured.