GARY KREFT vs. CELESTRON, CALIFORNIA INSURANCE GUARANTEE ASSOCIATION, COMPWEST INSURANCE COMPANY, HARTFORD INSURANCE COMPANY, AMERICAN CLAIMS MANAGEMENT, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND, Everest National Insurance Co.

This case concerns a cumulative injury claim where the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) granted Everest National Insurance Co.'s Petition for Removal. The WCAB amended a prior order joining Everest and other carriers, clarifying that Labor Code section 5500.5(a) limits liability for cumulative injuries to employers/insurers covering the year immediately preceding the date of injury or last exposure. As the date of injury/exposure was not yet determined and appeared to be the last day of employment, only the carriers covering that final year (CompWest and Hartford) were ordered joined. Everest was removed as a party defendant pending further determination.