LORENZO TORRES vs. KOOS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.; SAFETY NATIONAL CASUALTY COMPANY

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied defendant's Petition for Reconsideration of a Joint Findings and Award (F&A) issued on July 21, 2025. The F&A, authored by a Workers' Compensation Judge, found that applicant Lorenzo Torres sustained injuries arising out of and in the course of employment (AOE/COE) to his lumbar spine and psyche (ADJ13002649), with the psychological injury not precluded by a good faith personnel action defense, resulting in temporary partial disability and 14% permanent disability to the lumbar spine. Additionally, applicant sustained AOE/COE injuries to his right and left shoulders (ADJ13002697), leading to 3% and 4% permanent disability respectively. Defendant challenged these findings, arguing insufficient evidence for the psyche injury, unjustified temporary partial disability, a lower lumbar spine impairment, and no industrial shoulder injury. The Appeals Board reviewed the matter, including the WCJ's Report and Recommendation, and found the WCJ's conclusions to be supported by substantial evidence. Consequently, the Board affirmed the original F&A and denied the reconsideration petition.