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

Case No. ADJ8128282
Regular
Jan 23, 2014

ANGELA EGBIKUADJE vs. CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATIONS, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration and rescinded a prior award, returning the case for further proceedings. The defendant, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, argued that the applicant's psychiatric injury claim was preempted by the ADA and not proven under Labor Code section 3208.3. The Board found the original decision lacked proper analysis regarding predominant industrial causation and the good faith personnel action defense. Therefore, the case was remanded for further development of the record, including expert medical opinion on these issues.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardAngela EgbikuadjeCalifornia Department of Corrections and RehabilitationLegally UninsuredState Compensation Insurance FundADJ8128282Van Nuys District OfficeReconsiderationFindings and AwardIndustrial cumulative trauma injury
References
Case No. ADJ9700517
Regular
Oct 05, 2018

JEANNE WILLIAMS vs. CITY OF LOS ANGELES

The Appeals Board rescinded the prior award and returned the case to the trial level for further proceedings. The Board found the original decision on the good faith personnel action defense was unclear and required further development. Specifically, the WCJ must clarify which events constituted lawful, nondiscriminatory, good faith personnel actions. The parties will then need to re-address whether these specific actions were a substantial cause of the applicant's psychiatric injury with the medical evaluator.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardPSYCHE INJURYGOOD FAITH PERSONNEL ACTIONLABOR CODE §3208.3(H)TEMPORARY DISABILITYPANEL QUALIFIED MEDICAL EVALUATOR (PQME)DR. ELATROZYROLDA ANALYSISSUBSTANTIAL CAUSELAWFUL PERSONNEL ACTION
References
Case No. ADJ7977732, ADJ8044285, ADJ8044807
Regular
Nov 07, 2014

OSCAR ALVAREZ vs. EBUS, TRAVELERS INSURANCE COMPANY

The Appeals Board withdrew a Notice of Intention to Issue Sanctions against lien claimant Mednet, Inc. and its representative, Michael Goldberg. Initially, sanctions were considered for filing a skeletal, unverified Petition for Reconsideration and failing to appear at a lien conference, deemed bad faith actions causing delay. However, after Mednet explained the actions as an "honest mistake" due to lack of experience and apologized, the Board found the petition was not filed in bad faith or as a frivolous tactic. Mednet was admonished to familiarize itself with Appeals Board rules regarding liens and filings, but sanctions were ultimately withdrawn.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardRemovalNotice of Intention to Issue SanctionsLien ClaimantPetition for ReconsiderationSkeletal PetitionUnverified PetitionNon-Final OrderLien ConferenceBad Faith Actions
References
Case No. ADJ3942275 (LAO 0879499) ADJ4411298 (LAO 0879500)
Regular
Jul 12, 2012

JESUS RODRIGO GUZMAN vs. CHAMPION ARROWHEAD BRASS PRODUCTS, ZENITH INSURANCE COMPANY

This case involves sanctions imposed against Erika Campos and Fred F. Hafezi, M.D., for bad faith actions and tactics. They are jointly and severally sanctioned $1,000.00 payable to the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board. Sanctionable conduct included a misdated proof of service and misstatements of fact in a petition, as detailed in the WCJ's report. Neither Campos nor Hafezi responded to the Board's notice of intent to sanction.

SanctionsLabor Code section 5813Opinion and Decision After RemovalMisstatements of factBad faith actionsWorkers' Compensation Appeals BoardWCJProof of servicePetition for ReconsiderationNotice of Intention to Issue Sanctions
References
Case No. ADJ669922
Regular
Mar 04, 2011

CHARLIE DAVIS vs. COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO

This case concerns a petition for reconsideration by Pinnacle Lien Services regarding an order to pay attorney fees and sanctions. Pinnacle argued the WCJ erred in finding their filing of a Declaration of Readiness to Proceed was in bad faith and that the fee award was excessive. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied reconsideration, adopting the WCJ's report which found Pinnacle's actions were frivolous and without merit. The Board is returning the matter to the trial level to consider the defendant's request for additional attorney fees and sanctions related to Pinnacle's petition for reconsideration.

Declaration of ReadinessPinnacle Lien ServicesN-Carebad faith actionattorney feessanctionsLabor Code section 5813Compromise and Releaselien conferenceoff calendar
References
Case No. ADJ505656 (OAK 0287878)
Regular
Mar 13, 2009

LAURA EVERHART vs. DSL PRINTING, INC., TRAVELERS PROPERTY CASUALTY COMPANY

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration and rescinded an order imposing $2,500 in sanctions against Travelers Property Casualty Company. The Board found that Travelers' insistence on including hold-harmless language in a settlement agreement, even after the judge indicated it would not be approved, did not constitute bad faith. The WCJ overstepped his authority by attempting to dictate settlement terms before an agreement was finalized.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardRemovalReconsiderationSanctionsLabor Code section 5813Compromise and Release AgreementBad Faith ConductMedicare Set-AsideHold-Harmless LanguageWCJ
References
Case No. ADJ9116784
Regular
Nov 14, 2014

MICHAEL HERRERA vs. ACTION 2 MAINTENANCE, PREFERRED EMPLOYERS INSURANCE COMPANY

Here's a concise summary of the case for a lawyer: A lien claimant's petition for reconsideration was denied due to untimely filing of a lien and failure to appear at trial. The Appeals Board, on its own motion, granted removal to address sanctions. The Board intends to impose a $2,000 sanction and $525 in attorney fees against the lien claimant and its representative for frivolous and bad-faith actions causing delay. The lien claimant has 15 days plus mailing time to object.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardLien ClaimantPetition for ReconsiderationFindings and OrderDismissalAttorney FeesSanctionsLabor Code Section 5813Bad Faith ActionsFrivolous Tactics
References
Case No. ADJ11998519
Regular
Jan 17, 2020

LISA HILL SANDERS vs. KAISER PERMANENTE, SEDGWICK CLAIMS MANAGEMENT SERVICES

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration of a WCJ's award of attorney's fees to a medical-legal provider's attorney, finding that the WCJ's underlying finding of no bad faith actions by the defendant was inconsistent with the award. The Board rescinded the award, ruling that absent a finding of bad faith, attorney's fees and costs under WCAB Rule 10451.1 and Labor Code §5813 are not permissible. Consequently, neither the cost petitioner's attorney nor the defendant were awarded attorney's fees or costs.

WCABPetition for ReconsiderationAttorney's FeesWCAB Rule 10451.1Labor Code §5813Bad Faith ActionsFrivolous TacticsCost PetitionerMedical-Legal EvaluationBill Review
References
Case No. ADJ9320374
Regular
Jul 29, 2016

KURT KENDELL vs. COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO PROBATION DEPARTMENT

This case concerns a county probation officer's claim for psychiatric injury. The applicant alleged his injury stemmed from perceived bad faith personnel actions by his supervisor, including excessive report editing and workload issues. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) rescinded the prior award, finding the medical evidence regarding causation and the "good faith personnel action" defense was insufficient. The matter was returned to the trial level for further proceedings to develop the record, potentially through an Agreed Medical Examiner or a court-appointed physician, to clarify the causal relationship and the nature of the employer's actions.

Psychiatric injuryGood faith personnel action defenseLabor Code section 3208.3(h)Predominant causeSubstantial evidencePanel Qualified Medical Examiner (PQME)Rolda analysisActual events of employmentLawful nondiscriminatoryMedical probability
References
Case No. MON 0255649
Regular
Dec 27, 2007

IN SOON SONG vs. WINDSOR MANOR

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied In Soon Song's petition for reconsideration, upholding a prior finding that her psychiatric injury claim was barred by Labor Code section 3208.3(h). This section excludes claims substantially caused by lawful, non-discriminatory, good-faith personnel actions. The Board adopted the Judge's report, which detailed how Song's employment issues, including disciplinary actions and a workplace conflict investigation, constituted such actions. Defendant's request for sanctions was also denied.

WORKERS' COMPENSATION APPEALS BOARDWINDSOR MANORMON 0255649LAO 0771737ORDER DENYING RECONSIDERATIONPetition for ReconsiderationLabor Code 5813sanctionsFindings and OrderLabor Code section 3208.3(h)
References
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