CompFox Logo
AboutWorkflowFeaturesPricingCase LawInsights

Updated Daily

Case Law Database

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 The WCAB rescinded the decision and returned the case to the trial level, finding the medical opinions of Dr.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. ADJ7264969
Regular
Feb 22, 2011

Richard Warner vs. COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, INTERCARE INSURANCE SERVICES

Applicant Richard Warner, a firefighter on Catalina Island, sustained injuries while trimming wisteria at his home, which he was required to maintain as a condition of employment and from which he sometimes worked. The Board denied reconsideration, affirming the WCJ's finding that the injury was not arising out of and occurring in the course of employment (AOE/COE). The applicant's home was not considered employer premises under the bunkhouse rule as he owned and maintained it personally, receiving a stipend instead of provided housing. Although working from home was sometimes necessary, trimming wisteria was deemed a purely personal act unrelated to employment duties.

AOE/COEbunkhouse ruleemployer premisessecondary jobsitecourse of employmentperforming serviceproximate causepersonal taskincidental to employmentstipend
References
Case No. ADJ13261327
Regular
Sep 19, 2025

KEVIN SARIAN vs. CITY OF GLENDALE, ADMINSURE

Applicant Kevin Sarian, a senior library supervisor for the City of Glendale, sustained injuries after slipping and falling while returning from an off-premises meal break during which he discussed personnel issues with a co-worker. The Workers' Compensation Administrative Law Judge (WCJ) initially found the injury arose out of and occurred in the course of employment (AOE/COE). The defendant, City of Glendale, petitioned for reconsideration, arguing the applicant was not providing a benefit to his employer at the time of injury. The Appeals Board granted the petition for reconsideration, finding the discussions constituted a benefit to the employer and that the injury was AOE/COE, and thus affirmed the WCJ's Findings of Fact and Orders with an amendment to Finding 2.

AOE/COELabor Code section 3600(a)(2)Petition for ReconsiderationDecision After ReconsiderationWorkers' Compensation Appeals BoardWCJ ReportSalaried EmployeePersonnel IssuesLibrary SupervisorMeal Break
References
Case No. ADJ7041104
Regular
Jun 18, 2013

James Stanfield vs. Solid Rock Ranch School, Uninsured Employers Benefits Trust Fund

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board dismissed the applicant's Petition for Reconsideration as untimely. The applicant failed to file the petition within the statutory 25-day deadline after the March 25, 2013 Findings and Order. The Board adopted the administrative law judge's report, which found the applicant's injury did not arise out of and occur in the course of employment. Specifically, the applicant was engaged in a personal business venture, not employer-contemplated duties, at the time of the tractor accident.

WCABPetition for ReconsiderationuntimelyLabor Code section 5903Code of Civil Procedure section 1013Findings and OrderReport and Recommendationadministrative law judgeinjury arising out of and occurring in the course of employmentAOE/COE
References
Case No. ADJ9225006
Regular
Jul 10, 2015

JUAN LUNA CASTRO (Deceased), MARINA AYALA DE LUNA (Widow) vs. REDWOODS HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS, EMPLOYERS COMPENSATION INSURANCE COMPANY

This case concerns the death of Juan Luna Castro, a groundskeeper, in a motor vehicle accident during his scheduled work hours. The defendant employer sought reconsideration of the WCJ's finding that the death arose out of and in the course of employment (AOE/COE). The Board denied reconsideration, upholding the finding that Castro was on a business errand to purchase supplies for a company-sponsored BBQ, a task he had performed in previous years. The Board found his actions to be reasonable and impliedly permitted by his employment, thus satisfying the AOE/COE standard despite a prior reprimand for other work-related issues.

AOE/COEPetition for ReconsiderationGroundskeeperfatal motor vehicle accidentburden of proofindustrial injurycourse of employmentarising out of employmentcompany sponsored BBQobtaining supplies
References
Case No. ADJ7813892
Regular
Oct 26, 2018

LEOBARDO GIJON (Deceased), CELEDONIA MARTINEZ (Widow), ESAU GIJON vs. ROBERT WAYNE ROBINSON, DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS AS ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE UNINSURED EMPLOYERS BENEFITS TRUST FUND

This case concerns the fatal injury of Leobardo Gijon, who was run over by a backhoe on the property of uninsured employer Robert Wayne Robinson. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) is reconsidering its prior decision that Gijon's death arose out of and occurred in the course of his employment (AOE/COE). The defendant argues the WCAB failed to adequately address the AOE/COE issue, contending Gijon was operating the backhoe for personal reasons. However, the WCAB found substantial evidence that Gijon's operation of the backhoe was authorized by the employer and reasonably contemplated by the employment, especially as it was to be considered payment for ongoing work. Therefore, the petition for reconsideration was denied.

AOE/COEUninsured Employers Benefits Trust FundDeceased employeeFatal injuryBackhoe accidentWelding workCompensable injuryCourse of employmentDual purpose doctrineZone of danger
References
Case No. ADJ10864843
Regular
Nov 15, 2018

YOLANDA PLASCENCIA vs. HYUNDAI CAPITAL AMERICA, SOMPO AMERICA INSURANCE COMPANY

This case involves an applicant who sustained injuries after falling into a pothole on her employer's premises during a break. The applicant was in the process of switching vehicles with her daughter when the incident occurred. The defendant argued the injury was not AOE/COE, as the personal vehicle exchange served no employer benefit and the personal comfort doctrine did not apply. The Board denied reconsideration, adopting the WCJ's report which found the injury compensable under the personal comfort doctrine. The Board reasoned that it's reasonably contemplated for employees to access the employer's parking lot during breaks, and moving a personal car is a personal convenience incidental to employment.

AOE/COEPersonal Comfort DoctrineIndustrial InjuryCourse of EmploymentWorkers' Compensation Appeals BoardPetition for ReconsiderationFindings of FactWCJEmployer's PremisesPaid Break
References
Case No. ADJ9725488
Regular
Nov 13, 2015

Norris Hollie vs. Management Training Corporation, Zurich American Insurance Company, ESIS

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied reconsideration for applicant Norris Hollie, upholding a finding that his right knee injury on April 27, 2014, did not arise out of or occur in the course of his employment. The Board agreed that Hollie's participation in a continuing medical education program, while necessary to maintain his license, was not a reasonable expectation of his employment as a physician. There was no evidence of employer mandate, knowledge, or encouragement of this specific off-duty educational activity. Therefore, the injury sustained during this program was not deemed industrial.

Continuing educationMedical license renewalOff-duty activityReasonable expectancy of employmentCourse of employmentArising out of employmentIndustrial injuryPetition for reconsiderationFindings and AwardWCJ Report
References
Case No. ADJ19073561
Regular
Mar 17, 2025

JAZMIN LUCERO vs. LIVING SPACES FURNITURE, LLC; ZENITH INSURANCE COMPANY

Applicant Jazmin Lucero sustained an industrial injury while working as a truck driver for Living Spaces Furniture, LLC. Defendant Zenith Insurance Company denied the claim, citing the initial aggressor defense under Labor Code section 3600(a)(7). The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted the defendant's petition for reconsideration, rescinded the prior Findings and Award, and substituted it with new findings. The Board ultimately determined that the applicant's claim was not barred by the initial aggressor defense and that she sustained an injury arising out of and in the course of employment (AOE/COE) to her cervical and lumbar spine.

initial aggressor defenseLabor Code § 3600(a)(7)arising out of and in the course of employmentAOE/COEPetition for ReconsiderationReport and RecommendationFindings and Awardrescindedsubstitutedcervical spine
References
Case No. ADJ11026657
Regular
Feb 27, 2020

Monnie Wright vs. California Public Employees' Retirement System, State Compensation Insurance Fund

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) affirmed the finding that collateral estoppel prevents them from determining industrial causation for applicant Monnie Wright's injury under Government Code section 21166. A prior jury found Wright's injury arose out of employment but not in the course of employment. The WCAB has jurisdiction to determine industrial causation for CalPERS disability claims, applying procedural rules and factual findings. However, collateral estoppel, being a hybrid substantive/procedural issue, means the prior jury's determination on "arising out of" but not "in the course of" employment precludes the WCAB from making a new finding of industrial causation (AOE/COE).

WORKERS' COMPENSATION APPEALS BOARDCALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEMLegally UninsuredSTATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUNDClaims AdministratorOPINION AND DECISION AFTER RECONSIDERATIONGovernment Code section 21166collateral estoppelindustrial causationarising out of and in the course of employment
References
Showing 1-10 of 4,203 results

Ready to streamline your practice?

Apply these legal strategies instantly. CompFox helps you find decisions, analyze reports, and draft pleadings in minutes.

CompFox Logo

The AI standard for workers' compensation professionals. Faster research, deeper analysis, better outcomes.

Product

  • Platform
  • Workflow
  • Features
  • Pricing

Solutions

  • Defense Firms
  • Applicants' Attorneys
  • Insurance carriers
  • Medical Providers

Company

  • About
  • Insights
  • Case Law

Legal

  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Trust
  • Cookies
  • Subscription

© 2026 CompFox Inc. All rights reserved.

Systems Operational