The wall chart

Every chain in a workers’ compensation case and every path between them, on one sheet. Print at 100% (no “fit to page”) on 4 sheets of 8.5×11 landscape and tape them together in the lettered order — the grid reference is printed in the corner of each. Row A is the whole sequence of a case, left to right; row B is the recurring work.

A node is a chain. The badge is the shortest branch of its clock. The line into a node is what led there, labelled with the condition that sends a case down it; a dashed line curving back is a loop — review resuming, a settlement returning from the judge, a replacement panel.

ColourDark red: miss it and the case is over.
Red: they moved, the clock runs.
Green: we move, the date is ours.
Purple: either side. Grey: routine.
Starts hereThe case opens
Foot of the chartThe 5 chains that recur throughout a case and belong to no single point in it.
† Not verifiedA citation marked † is not in AAI-STD 1 and has not been checked against primary text. Confirm it before relying on it.
DetailTasks, owners, due dates, file-note templates and all 341 templates are on the screen version. This is the map, not the manual.
the carrier defers instead of deciding
the dispute is not medical necessity
no appointment inside the statutory window
the panel is assigned and records go out
the evaluation happens
the reporting supports setting the case
the report supports a settlement value
denied, delayed, or benefits are disputed
the injured worker dies
accepted — treatment proceeds
the case is ready to be heard
the facts support serious and willful misconduct
a prior permanent disability is in play
the defense wants the applicant’s testimony
records are needed from a third party
the matter is heard and decided
the case resolves at the conference
a party challenges the decision
an award exists, so new and further disability can be claimed
the award is payable
the fee is decided with the award
the judge wants more before approving
the judge approves
the treating doctor requests authorization
a provider treated and can claim against the case
a party objects to the treating doctor’s finding
the doctor releases to modified or regular work
discovery closes
the custodian produces
the voucher and return-to-work bear on value
the lien is set for conference
the liens are resolved and nothing is outstanding
a petition to reopen restarts the case
the defect is cured and it is resubmitted
the Board acts on the petition
a replacement panel is requested
liability resolves and review resumes
the fee is paid from the award
the claim form goes to the carrier
the other side begins writing to the firm
a report decides something the worker’s benefits turn on
the last payment clears and no clock is left running
the dependants file their own application
the dependency claim resolves
answering it needs records from a third party
discovery closes at the conference
it is a written discovery request
it objects to a treating physician’s report
it concerns the panel, a strike or an evaluator
it demands records or answers a subpoena
it notices or reschedules a deposition
it makes or answers an offer
it concerns a payment, a rate or a benefit
the petition is set for hearing
the Fund claim is set for hearing
Recurring — no place in the sequence
Treatment is refused10 days
A utilization review decision refusing a treatment
LC 4610.5(f), (h)(1)–(3); 8 CCR 9792.10.1
UR-DENIAL tab 8 10 tasks 9 tpl
A panel is assigned10 days
The administrative director assigns three evaluators
LC 4062.2(c)
QME tab 7/6 10 tasks 18 tpl
Records go to the evaluator20 days BEFORE
either side proposes records for the evaluator
LC 4062.3(a)–(g); 8 CCR 35(d)
MEDREC tab 5/13 7 tasks 3 tpl
The evaluator reports30 days
The report the case turns on
LC 139.2(j)(1), 4062.5
PQME tab 7/6 10 tasks 17 tpl
The carrier answers the claim75 days
Acceptance, denial or delay
LC 5402(b)
BENEFITS tab 1/10/11 26 tasks 1 tpl
The case opens at the Board1 year
The attorney directs the filing
† LC 5405
APP-ADJ tab 2 12 tasks 6 tpl
The case is set for hearing
Either side declares the case ready
—
DOR tab 3 18 tasks 12 tpl
The Board decides20 days
An order, award or findings
LC 5903; 8 CCR 10605(a)–(b), 10940, 10945
ORDER tab 2/14 8 tasks 3 tpl
The case ends
The parties agree
8 CCR 10700(a)
CR tab 14 16 tasks 27 tpl
The treating doctor decides something20 days
A report that changes what the worker gets — P&S, work status, a treatment the carrier will refuse
LC 4062(a)
PR2 tab 5/7 9 tasks 13 tpl
A deposition is noticednot before 10 days
Notice that a party is to be deposed
LC 5710(a)–(b); CCP 2025.270(a), (c)
DEPO-NOTICE tab 12 7 tasks 9 tpl
Records are subpoenaednot before 20 days
The attorney directs a subpoena to a custodian
LC 130, 5710; CCP 2020.410(c); Evid. Code 1560(b)(2)
SDT tab 13 7 tasks 10 tpl
Work is offered
An offer of regular, modified or alternative work
LC 4658(d)(2)–(3); 4658.1(a)–(c); 4658.7(b)(1)–(2)
BENEFITS tab 1/10/11 7 tasks 16 tpl
A provider claims against the case18 months
A lien for services the provider says it gave
LC 4903.5(a), 4903.05
LIEN tab 15 8 tasks 10 tpl
The injury gets worse5 years
New and further disability appears after an award
LC 5410
PET tab 2 4 tasks 2 tpl
The judge wants more before approving
An Order Suspending Action on a settlement
8 CCR 10700(b), 10789(e)
ORDER tab 2/14 5 tasks 0 tpl
Is it final, or interlocutory?
An order that decides something
Vazquez v. Renteria (WCAB en banc, 2025); 8 CCR 10955(a)
ORDER tab 2/14 9 tasks 0 tpl
No appointment can be had90 days
The evaluator has no appointment within ninety days
8 CCR 31.3(e)–(f), 31.5(a)(2)
QME tab 7/6 5 tasks 2 tpl
The carrier defers the review
A UR decision whose descriptor is Deferral or Delay
† LC 4610(l), (m)
UR-DENIAL tab 8 8 tasks 0 tpl
The fee is decided
A settlement or award is filed
LC 4906(a), (d); 8 CCR 10844
PET tab 2 3 tasks 8 tpl
The case opens
A client signs up
APP-ADJ tab 2 17 tasks 25 tpl
The client is kept told
Anything happens the client should know
CORR tab 4/2/6/7/11/12/13/14/15/cover 6 tasks 23 tpl
Something is served
The firm serves any document
POS tab 3/6 4 tasks 22 tpl
Medical records come in20 days
Reports, records and provider paper
LC 4062(a)
MEDREC tab 5/13 8 tasks 4 tpl
Money moves
Checks, EOBs, mileage, bills
† LC 4650(a), (d)
BENEFITS tab 1/10/11 4 tasks 12 tpl
Representation changes
A party changes attorney, or the firm does
CORR tab 4/2/6/7/11/12/13/14/15/cover 4 tasks 13 tpl
The Board sends paper
Minutes, notices, acknowledgments
NOH tab 3/15 5 tasks 13 tpl
Stationery and firm records
The firm needs a letterhead, envelope or cover sheet
AUTH tab 13/cover 5 tasks 21 tpl
The injured worker dies1 year
The firm learns the injured worker has died
† LC 5406(b)
APP-ADJ tab 2 5 tasks 0 tpl
Written discovery arrives
Interrogatories, requests for admission or requests for production, served by a party
DISCOVERY tab 12 7 tasks 0 tpl
A letter arrives from the other side
Correspondence from the carrier, defence counsel or a third-party administrator
CORR tab 4/2/6/7/11/12/13/14/15/cover 6 tasks 0 tpl
The case closes and the file does not
The last clock has run, or the firm withdraws, or the client leaves
CORR tab 4/2/6/7/11/12/13/14/15/cover 6 tasks 0 tpl
A petition for serious and willful misconduct1 year
the attorney decides the facts may support a petition under LC 4553
† LC 5407(a)
PET tab 2 4 tasks 2 tpl
The prior disability is at issue
a prior permanent disability combines with this injury
SIBTF tab 2 4 tasks 2 tpl
A1
A2
A3
B1