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

Case No. ADJ8026817
Regular
Apr 22, 2013

MARIA OCHOA vs. RANGERS DIE CASTING COMPANY, COMPWEST INSURANCE COMPANY

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) granted reconsideration of a decision finding the applicant sustained injury to her respiratory system and psyche AOE/COE. The WCAB rescinded the decision and returned the case to the trial level, finding the medical opinions of Dr. Lipper and Dr. Curtis lacked substantiality. Specifically, the physicians failed to provide clear diagnoses, quantify exposures, or adequately explain causation. The Board noted contradictory testimony from the applicant's supervisor and insufficient evidence to support the initial findings.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardMaria OchoaRangers Die Casting CompanyCOMPWEST INSURANCE COMPANYADJ8026817Los Angeles District OfficeOpinion and Order Granting ReconsiderationDecision After ReconsiderationFindings of FactWorkers' Compensation Administrative Law Judge (WCJ)
References
Case No. ADJ2423806
Regular
Jun 07, 2010

BASIL PERKINS vs. CITY OF LOS ANGELES

In this workers' compensation case, the applicant, Basil Perkins, sought reconsideration after his claim for an industrial injury was denied. Perkins argued he was denied due process and that his injury was compensable under several doctrines, including positional and special risk, while also asserting employment motivation for the assault. The Appeals Board admitted a security bulletin provided by the applicant but found it irrelevant as it described tactics dissimilar to the applicant's shooting and was issued over two years after the injury. Ultimately, the Board affirmed its prior decision denying the applicant's claim.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardReconsiderationIndustrial InjuryDue ProcessPositional Risk DoctrineSpecial Risk DoctrineSecurity BulletinAnimal Rights GroupsEmployment-Related AssaultInference of Motivation
References
Case No. ADJ8801352
Regular
Jun 06, 2014

Robert Coon vs. Swift Transportation, Gallagher Bassett Services, Inc.

This case involves a student truck driver attacked while on a dinner break, sustaining severe injuries including partial quadriplegia. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied the employer's petition for reconsideration, upholding the finding that the injury arose out of and in the course of employment. The Board applied the "commercial traveler" rule and the "personal comfort" doctrine, finding the employee's actions were incidental to his employment. Crucially, the Board determined the attack was a "neutral risk" as there was no evidence of personal motive for the assault.

AOE/COECommercial Traveler RulePersonal Comfort DoctrineNeutral Risk DoctrineThird-Party AssaultUnknown MotiveUnprovoked AttackLong Haul TruckerStudent DriverMentor
References
Case No. ADJ8610560
Regular
Sep 19, 2013

William Brown (Deceased), Annette Brown vs. SAVE MART SUPERMARKETS

This case involves a widow's petition for workers' compensation death benefits for her truck driver husband who died in a motorcycle accident after leaving work. The administrative law judge denied the claim, finding it barred by the going and coming rule. The applicant argued the special risk exception applied due to hazardous road conditions and a quantitatively greater risk compared to the general public. The majority of the Appeals Board denied reconsideration, agreeing with the WCJ that the risks were not exclusive to employment.

Going and Coming RuleSpecial Risk ExceptionDeath BenefitsMotor Vehicle AccidentIndustrial InjuryTruck DriverNegligencePublic RoadZone of DangerHazard
References
Case No. ADJ12315169
Regular
Sep 10, 2019

Gregory Williams vs. Redwood Electric Group, Travelers Property Casualty Company of America

The Appeals Board affirmed an Arbitrator's finding that an electrician's injuries, potentially from electrocution, arose out of employment. Despite the unwitnessed nature of the injury and lack of direct evidence on the precise cause, the Board applied the *Clemmens* doctrine, creating a presumption that the injury occurred in the course of employment when the employee is placed at the location by the employer. Circumstantial evidence, including entry and exit wounds and the active construction site environment, supported the industrial nature of the injury. The defendant's arguments regarding the neutral risk doctrine, burden of proof, and denial of due process were found unpersuasive or waived.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardRedwood Electric GroupTravelers Property Casualty Company of AmericaJourneyman Electricianupper and lower extremitiesbody systemskinkidneysheartbrain
References
Case No. ADJ9160815
Regular
Jun 10, 2014

ALMA CEDILLO vs. CEDARS SINAI MEDICAL CENTER, TRISTAR RISK MANAGEMENT

This case involves an applicant, Alma Cedillo, seeking workers' compensation benefits from Cedars Sinai Medical Center and Tristar Risk Management. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) issued an order denying a Petition for Removal filed in the case. The WCAB adopted the reasoning of the workers' compensation administrative law judge (WCJ) in reaching its decision to deny removal. Therefore, the applicant's request to remove the case from the current process was rejected.

Petition for RemovalWorkers' Compensation Appeals BoardCedars Sinai Medical CenterTristar Risk ManagementAdministrative Law JudgeADJ9160815Van Nuys District OfficeAlma Cedillodenying removalworkers' compensation
References
Case No. ADJ6671912
Regular
Nov 20, 2013

HONG GUANG ZHU, Deceased HE RUI YUN, Spouse vs. TRI VILLAGE CHINESE RESTAURANT, FARMERS INSURANCE GROUP

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board affirmed a prior finding that the decedent chef's death arose out of and occurred in the course of employment. The decedent was shot and killed while resting in his car during a split shift, a common and permitted practice. The Board found this constituted a neutral risk, as no personal motive for the murder was identified, thus satisfying the "personal comfort doctrine." Therefore, the death was deemed compensable as it was linked to his employment by time, place, and circumstance.

WORKERS' COMPENSATION APPEALS BOARDRECONSIDERATIONFINDINGS OF FACTCOURSE OF EMPLOYMENTARISING OUT OF EMPLOYMENTCHEFSPLIT SHIFTPERSONAL COMFORT DOCTRINENEUTRAL RISKUNKNOWN MOTIVE
References
Case No. ADJ16236352
Regular
Apr 08, 2025

RAHMATOLAH YAGHOUBI vs. CALTRANS, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied the defendant's petition for reconsideration regarding the death of Rahmatolah Yaghoubi. The case centered on whether Yaghoubi's fatal injury, sustained during an assault on a public sidewalk on a paid holiday, arose out of and in the course of his employment with CalTrans. The Board affirmed the Workers' Compensation Judge's finding that Yaghoubi, a civil engineer known for working extended and flexible hours from home, was considered to be in the course of employment under the personal comfort doctrine. Furthermore, the assault was classified as a neutral risk, making the injury compensable.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardCALTRANSPetition for ReconsiderationLabor CodeAdjudication NumberOpinion and OrderAdministrative Law JudgeReport and RecommendationArising Out of EmploymentCourse of Employment
References
Case No. ADJ2154380 (SAC 0363541)
Regular
Jul 21, 2010

Spencer Davis vs. Clark & Sullivan, Inc., LWP Claims Sacramento, Berkshire Hathaway San Francisco, Berkshire Hathaway Pasadena

The defendant sought to disqualify the Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME) due to their unavailability for deposition within the regulatory 120-day timeframe. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) denied the petition for removal, affirming the lower order. The WCAB found that Administrative Director (AD) Rule 31.5, concerning replacement panels, does not apply to QME unavailability for deposition. Furthermore, the Board found no demonstrable prejudice or irreparable harm, noting the defendant's own rescheduling of the deposition.

Petition for RemovalQualified Medical EvaluatorQME UnavailabilityDeposition SchedulingAdministrative Director RulesAD Rule 35.5(f)AD Rule 31.5(a)(5)AD Rule 33PrejudiceIrreparable Harm
References
Case No. ADJ7863081
Regular
Jun 25, 2012

RONNIE BROWN vs. MASTER PLUMBING, RISK ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT, AMERICAN ALL RISK LOSS

In this workers' compensation case, the defendant sought reconsideration of a prior Board decision that had granted them a Petition for Reconsideration and amended a WCJ's decision to deny the applicant temporary disability indemnity. The defendant argued the Board erred by not finding them entitled to a credit for temporary disability already paid during that period. The Board denied the defendant's petition, stating that the issue of credit for overpayment is discretionary under Labor Code section 4909 and should have been addressed at the trial level by the WCJ. Therefore, the defendant's petition for reconsideration of the denial of the credit was denied.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardPetition for ReconsiderationTemporary Disability IndemnityCredit for OverpaymentLabor Code section 4909Findings Award and OrderAdministrative Law JudgeDecision After ReconsiderationMaster PlumbingRisk Enterprise Management
References
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