IA Construction Corp. v. Workers' Compensation Appeal Board (Rhodes)

OPINION

Chief Justice SAYLOR.

This appeal centers on the validity of a workers’ compensation judge’s decision to reject opinion testimony from an independent medical witness presented by an employer and insurer, in the absence of any contrary evidence adduced by the claimant.

Background

The matter arises in the context of Section 306(a.2) of the Workers’ Compensation Act, 1 77 P.S. § 511.2, which was promulgated in 1996 as a component of the General Assembly’s efforts to address the rising costs of the workers’ compensation liability scheme. See Gardner v. WCAB (Genesis Health Ventures), 585 Pa.…