diff --git a/docs/rag/lifecycle/status-transitions.md b/docs/rag/lifecycle/status-transitions.md
index 083614ab..d7f39fdf 100644
--- a/docs/rag/lifecycle/status-transitions.md
+++ b/docs/rag/lifecycle/status-transitions.md
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
 | awaiting_documentation | claimed | claim | documenter |
 | awaiting_pm_review | awaiting_ceo_approval | escalate_to_ceo | head_marketing, main_pm, product_owner |
 | awaiting_pm_review | cancelled | cancel | cell_pm, ceo, main_pm |
-| awaiting_pm_review | claimed | claim | cell_pm, main_pm |
 | awaiting_pm_review | completed | complete | cell_pm, main_pm |
 | awaiting_pm_review | needs_revision | request_changes | cell_pm, main_pm |
 | awaiting_pr_review | awaiting_pm_review | pr_pass | pr_reviewer |
diff --git a/panel/lib/lifecycle.json b/panel/lib/lifecycle.json
index 8d0aa4c3..c673a92e 100644
--- a/panel/lib/lifecycle.json
+++ b/panel/lib/lifecycle.json
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
   "claim_rules": {
     "auditor": [],
     "cell_pm": [
-      "awaiting_pm_review",
       "needs_revision",
       "pending"
     ],
@@ -17,7 +16,6 @@
     ],
     "head_marketing": [],
     "main_pm": [
-      "awaiting_pm_review",
       "needs_revision",
       "pending"
     ],
@@ -531,15 +529,6 @@
       "source": "awaiting_pm_review",
       "target": "cancelled"
     },
-    {
-      "action": "claim",
-      "roles": [
-        "cell_pm",
-        "main_pm"
-      ],
-      "source": "awaiting_pm_review",
-      "target": "claimed"
-    },
     {
       "action": "complete",
       "roles": [
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_notification_reescalation_dedup_exemption.py b/tests/integration/test_notification_reescalation_dedup_exemption.py
index 9f413245..b380723b 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_notification_reescalation_dedup_exemption.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_notification_reescalation_dedup_exemption.py
@@ -161,4 +161,27 @@ async def test_two_sequential_due_reescalations_both_deliver(
     )
     expected_total_rows = 3  # the seeded original + both re-escalation attempts
     assert count == expected_total_rows
-    assert cast("UUID", target.id) is not None  # target row exists + resolvable
+    # Both re-escalation rows must be addressed to target.id (the escalation
+    # target), proving the ladder re-fired to the right recipient — not a
+    # tautology on target.id which was uuid4() at construction.
+    all_rows = (
+        (
+            await db_session.execute(
+                select(NotificationTable).where(
+                    NotificationTable.from_agent == cast("UUID", sender.id),
+                    NotificationTable.type == NotificationType.BLOCKER_ESCALATION,
+                    NotificationTable.related_task_id == task_id,
+                )
+            )
+        )
+        .scalars()
+        .all()
+    )
+    re_escalation_rows = [
+        r for r in all_rows if cast("UUID", target.id) in (r.to_agents or [])
+    ]
+    expected_re_escalation_rows = 2  # one per _re_escalate_recipient call
+    assert len(re_escalation_rows) == expected_re_escalation_rows, (
+        f"expected {expected_re_escalation_rows} re-escalation rows addressed "
+        f"to target ({target.slug}), got {len(re_escalation_rows)}"
+    )