Williams v. Workers' Compensation Appeal Board

OPINION BY Judge LEAVITT.

Donna Williams (Claimant) petitions for review of the order of the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board (Board) that denied her petition to reinstate compensation benefits. In doing so, the Board reversed the decision of the Workers’ Compensation Judge (WCJ) because his key findings were inconsistent with those made in a prior proceeding, the outcome of which was never appealed by Claimant, and, thus, were barred by the doctrine of collateral estoppel.

On March 18, 1997, Claimant suffered a work-related injury in the nature of a lum-bosacral strain while working as a…