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Access over workers' compensation decisions, including En Banc, Significant Panel Decisions, and writ-denied cases.

Case No. ADJ10575875
Regular
Jul 12, 2019

DANA BROUSSARD vs. STATE OF CALIFORNIA, LANCASTER STATE PRISON

This case concerns an office technician who developed transverse myelitis following a Hepatitis B vaccination series received as part of her employment. The applicant's physician, Dr. Chodakiewitz, concluded that it was medically probable the vaccination caused the injury, despite acknowledging other potential causes could not be definitively ruled out. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration and found substantial evidence supporting injury arising out of and occurring in the course of employment (AOE/COE). The Board affirmed the WCJ's finding of AOE/COE, reversing the prior decision to defer this issue.

Transverse MyelitisHepatitis B VaccinationNeurological InjuryMedical CausationAOE/COEPetition for ReconsiderationSubstantial EvidenceReasonable Medical ProbabilityQME OpinionOffice Technician
References
Case No. ADJ7885937
Regular
Apr 16, 2013

TARA MILLER vs. MACY'S WEST/MACY'S CORPORATE SERVICES

This case involves Tara Miller's workers' compensation claim against Macy's West for a slip and fall injury. Macy's petitioned for reconsideration of the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board's (WCAB) decision finding injury AOE/COE to the applicant's left wrist and back. The WCAB denied reconsideration, adopting the WCJ's report which found the applicant credible and the evidence supported the injury finding. Additionally, the petition was denied as it was not properly verified as required by Labor Code section 5902.

AOE/COEPetition for ReconsiderationWorkers' Compensation Appeals BoardPermissibly Self-InsuredWCJ credibilityLabor Code section 5902improperly verifiedinjury AOE/COEtemporary disabilityDefense Exhibit E
References
Case No. ADJ11242649, ADJ10707082
Regular
Apr 03, 2020

MARIA LOPEZ vs. TREEHOUSE PRIVATE BRANDS/ CONAGRA BRANDS, INC., and TRAVELERS PROPERTY CASUALTY COMPANY OF AMERICA administered by TRAVELERS INSURANCE COMPANY

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board rescinded the previous findings and deferred the issue of injury arising out of and occurring in the course of employment (AOE/COE) in both cases. The Board found that the Qualified Medical Examiner's reports lacked substantial evidence, particularly regarding the analysis of MRI results and the explanation for dismissing applicant's claims. The matter is returned to the WCJ to allow the parties to develop the record, potentially by appointing a "regular physician" for further evaluation. The Board also rejected the defendant's due process claim as moot.

AOE/COEPetition for ReconsiderationFindings of FactOrder Vacating Submissionorthopedic qualified medical examiner (QME)substantial evidencedevelop the recordregular physiciancumulative injuryspecific injury
References
Case No. ADJ398757 (LBO 0393631)
Regular
Dec 24, 2010

GARY E. MORGAN vs. REYNOLDS BUICK, GMC & PONTIAC, ICW GROUP

The applicant sought removal, arguing that proceeding to trial on injury arising out of and occurring in the course of employment (AOE/COE) without a Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME) opinion would be prejudicial. The defendants asserted factual defenses and their due process rights. The Appeals Board granted removal, finding that the applicant carries the burden of proof for AOE/COE. Therefore, the Board amended the trial order to exclude AOE/COE, allowing only the issue of travel expenses for a QME evaluation to be tried.

Petition for RemovalAOE/COEQualified Medical EvaluatorPQMECompensabilityTravel ExpensesLabor Code Section 4060Burden of ProofIndustrial InjuryMedical-Legal Evaluation
References
Case No. ADJ6875445
Regular
Aug 02, 2010

JOSE RIVAS vs. NNC MANAGEMENT, LLC/ADP TOTAL SOURCE, SPECIALTY RISK SERVICES

Defendant NNC Management, LLC/ADP Total Source sought removal of a WCJ's order to proceed to trial on both AOE/COE and temporary disability. The applicant claimed an injury in January 2009, and the employer denied it based on a post-termination defense. The defendant argues they were denied due process by being forced to litigate temporary disability without prior notice, as the initial proceedings focused solely on AOE/COE. The Appeals Board granted the petition for removal, amending the order to limit the August 4, 2010 trial to the AOE/COE issue only.

Petition for RemovalPost-termination defenseAOE/COETemporary DisabilityDue ProcessDeclaration of Readiness to ProceedPriority ConferenceMandatory Settlement ConferenceDiscoverySubstitution of Attorneys
References
Case No. ADJ6751788
Regular
Aug 16, 2010

MOISES ROBLES GARCIA vs. ABLE BUILDING MAINTENANCE, ZURICH NORTH AMERICA

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration of a finding of industrial injury for applicant Moises Robles Garcia. Defendant Able Building Maintenance argued the applicant failed to prove injury arising out of and occurring in the course of employment (AOE/COE) and raised affirmative defenses of intoxication and material deviation. The Board rescinded the original decision and returned the case to the trial level for further proceedings, specifically to determine AOE/COE and consider the applicant's credibility and deposition transcripts. The WCJ must now make a determination on AOE/COE and potentially other defenses.

AOE/COEintoxication defensematerial deviationexcluded evidencedeposition transcriptswitness demeanorcredibilitypreponderance of the evidencecausal connectionrational incident of work
References
Case No. ADJ10810340
Regular
Jan 04, 2018

DUSTIN RAMIREZ vs. VIASYSTEMS/TTM TECHNOLOGIES, TRAVELERS PROPERTY AND CASUALTY

This case concerns a Petition for Reconsideration by the defendant, Viasystems/TTM Technologies, challenging a Workers' Compensation Judge's (WCJ) findings. The WCJ's decision addressed statute of limitations, lack of prejudice, and date of injury, but not the ultimate issue of whether the applicant's injury arose out of and in the course of employment (AOE/COE). The Appeals Board denied the petition because it was filed from an interlocutory order, not a final decision on AOE/COE. While the Board agreed that the WCJ's findings on the statute of limitations, notice, and date of injury were appealable, it ultimately denied reconsideration based on the WCJ's report, which found that the record required further development on the crucial AOE/COE issue.

WCABPetition for ReconsiderationDenying PetitionWCJ ReportFinal OrderSubstantive RightsThreshold IssueStatute of LimitationsLabor Code Section 5405Date of Injury
References
Case No. ADJ12294911
Regular
Apr 14, 2025

KHADIJAH BROWN vs. REGINALD AJAKWE, MD, RAYMOND TATEVOSSIAN, MD, MID-CENTURY INSURANCE COMPANY

Applicant Khadijah Brown sought reconsideration of a WCJ's decision that she did not sustain a psychiatric injury arising out of and occurring in the course of employment (AOE/COE) and that a good faith personnel action defense was established. The Appeals Board granted reconsideration, finding that the WCJ erroneously concluded applicant did not sustain injury to her psyche AOE/COE and failed to recognize objective evidence of harassment. The Board rescinded the original findings and substituted new findings, determining that applicant did sustain injury to her psyche AOE/COE and that this injury resulted from actual events of employment. The issue of the defendant's good faith personnel action defense was deferred for further proceedings.

AOE/COEpsychiatric injuryLabor Code Section 3208.3(b)(1)actual events of employmentharassmentgood faith personnel actionVerga v. Workers' Comp. Appeals Bd.racial epithetsuspensiontermination
References
Case No. ADJ12304192
Regular
Mar 27, 2023

JOANNA ELLIOTT vs. PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY, ADMINISTERED BY GALLAGHER BASSETT SERVICES, INC.

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration and amended the WCJ's decision. While the applicant is presumed to have sustained injury AOE/COE for asthma and digestive issues, the issue of lung disease and nose/throat injury AOE/COE was not properly framed for trial. Therefore, this specific issue has been deferred, pending further proceedings. The WCAB affirmed the WCJ's other findings based on the existing record.

AOE/COEPetition for ReconsiderationWorkers' Compensation Appeals BoardLung DiseaseAsthmaUpper Digestive SystemNose and Throat InjuryDeferred IssueFindings and OrderMedical Evidence
References
Case No. LBO 371891
Regular
Mar 03, 2009

ANNA GUTIERREZ vs. CEDARS-SINAI HEALTH SYSTEM

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration and reversed the WCJ's finding of injury AOE/COE, holding that the applicant failed to prove her injury arose out of and in the course of employment. The Board found no substantial evidence supported an AOE/COE injury, distinguishing defendant's denial letter as an acknowledgment of an accident, not an admission of industrial injury. The issue of medical/legal charges was deferred for further proceedings.

Workers Compensation Appeals BoardAnna GutierrezCedars-Sinai Health SystemFindings and AwardCompromise and ReleaseThomas FindingAOE/COElien claimantAndalib Chiropracticmedical treatment
References
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