Updated Daily

Case Law Database

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

Case No. ADJ8740864, ADJ8764475, ADJ8960944

Regular

Oct 16, 2025

KATHY BRANDOW vs. LAW OFFICES OF WAYNE SINGER, THE HARTFORD

Applicant Kathy Brandow sought to disqualify a workers' compensation administrative law judge (WCJ), alleging bias and conflict of interest. The defendants, Law Offices of Wayne Singer and The Hartford, responded, and the WCJ filed a report recommending denial of the petition. After reviewing all submissions, the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied the petition for disqualification, finding no grounds for bias or prejudice. The Board further cautioned the applicant against repeatedly filing unmeritorious motions, warning that such conduct could lead to vexatious litigant proceedings.

WCABPetition for DisqualificationWCJ biasconflict of interestLabor Code 5311Code of Civil Procedure 641unqualified opinionenmitybiasWCAB Rule 10960

References

Case No. ADJ10558753

Regular

Apr 25, 2018

DIANE SCHRADER vs. THE HETTENA LAW FIRM, TRAVELERS PROPERTY CASUALTY COMPANY OF AMERICA

The applicant sought to set aside a Compromise and Release (C&R) settlement, alleging severe cognitive impairment at the time of signing. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) denied reconsideration of the original decision. The WCAB found that the physician's report, which formed the basis of the applicant's claim of impairment, was speculative as the physician was not present at the settlement. Furthermore, the WCAB deferred to the administrative law judge's credibility determination, who found the claims of incompetence not credible.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardPetition for ReconsiderationFindings of Fact & OrderCompromise and ReleaseOrder Approving Compromise and ReleaseSet AsideGood CauseCognitive ImpairmentSubstantial EvidencePrimary Treating Physician

References

Case No. ADJ3882107 (VNO 0535948)

Regular

Aug 14, 2012

PETER ARCARESE vs. LAW OFFICES OF MANUEL MILLER, STATE FARM FIRE AND CASUALTY COMPANY

This Workers' Compensation Appeals Board order dismisses a Petition for Disqualification filed by Peter Arcarese. The dismissal is based on the petition not being timely filed. The Board adopted and incorporated the reasoning from the administrative law judge's report and recommendation. Therefore, the Petition for Disqualification is formally dismissed.

Petition for DisqualificationDismissedTimely-filedWorkers' Compensation Appeals BoardAdministrative Law JudgeReport and RecommendationVNO 0535948ADJ3882107

References

Case No. ADJ7540212

Regular

Nov 07, 2017

EXEEN LEZAMA vs. CPEhr/DORDULIAN LAW GROUP, ZURICH AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY

This case involves a petition for reconsideration or removal that was dismissed and denied. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) found that the administrative law judge's order rescinding a dismissal was an interlocutory, non-final order, thus ineligible for reconsideration. Furthermore, the WCAB denied removal because the petitioner failed to demonstrate substantial prejudice or irreparable harm, and that reconsideration would not be an adequate remedy. The WCAB emphasized that removal is an extraordinary remedy rarely granted.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardPetition for ReconsiderationPetition for RemovalFinal OrderInterlocutory OrderSubstantive Right or LiabilityThreshold IssueExtraordinary RemedySubstantial PrejudiceIrreparable Harm

References

Case No. ADJ3660859, ADJ4106950, ADJ876448

Regular

Jun 30, 2025

JOAN LEOPOLD vs. LAW OFFICES OF MARVYN GORDON, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

Applicant Joan Leopold filed a petition to disqualify a workers' compensation administrative law judge (WCJ), alleging bias due to the WCJ's purported personal relationship with her former attorney and excusing defendant's counsel from a trial related to attorney fees. The WCJ denied any personal relationship and clarified the defendant's role. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board reviewed the petition and the WCJ's report, ultimately denying the petition. The Board found that the applicant failed to provide sufficient factual basis for disqualification and that the petition was not timely filed according to WCAB Rule 10960.

WCABPetition for DisqualificationAdministrative Law Judge (WCJ)BiasTelephonic HearingAttorney FeesLien ClaimantLabor Code Section 5311Code of Civil Procedure Section 641WCAB Rule 10960

References

Case No. ADJ7630224

Regular

Nov 29, 2012

TINA SPERBER vs. LAW OFFICES OF LISA M. PACIONE

This case involves Tina Sperber's workers' compensation claim against her employer, Law Offices of Lisa M. Pacione. The applicant, a legal assistant, sustained an injury while investigating a property related to a case, claiming implied authorization. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied reconsideration, upholding the judge's finding that the applicant was not a credible witness regarding her authority. The Board agreed that the applicant lacked permission for the investigation and that the information gathered provided no benefit to the defendant.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardDenying ReconsiderationLegal AssistantLaw OfficesInvestigationImplied AuthorizationCredibilityBenefit to DefendantFamily Law ProceedingsAdministrative Law Judge

References

Case No. ADJ7192006

Regular

Apr 01, 2014

GENE GOODREAU vs. LAW OFFICES OF MARC ELLIOTT GROSSMAN, THE HARTFORD

This case concerns a Petition for Reconsideration filed by the defendant, Law Offices of Marc Elliott Grossman and The Hartford, regarding a prior Findings and Award. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) granted the petition to allow for further study of the factual and legal issues. This reconsideration is necessary to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the record and facilitate a just decision. All future communications regarding this case must be filed in writing with the WCAB Commissioners' office in San Francisco, not with any district office or via e-filing.

Petition for ReconsiderationFindings and AwardStatutory Time ConstraintsFactual and Legal IssuesJust and Reasoned DecisionDecision After ReconsiderationOffice of the CommissionersElectronic Adjudication Management SystemWCABLos Angeles District Office

References

Case No. AHM 097527

Regular

Jul 24, 2007

WILLIAM SCOTT vs. DOWNEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, SCRMA

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board affirmed the finding of 100% permanent disability for the applicant's severe back and internal injuries. However, the Board rescinded the denial of the employer's credit for the applicant's third-party recovery and remanded the case. The remanded issues include determining comparative negligence between the employer and the third-party truck company, the employer's credit claim, and the allocation of settlement proceeds, particularly concerning loss of consortium.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardReconsiderationIndustrial InjuryUtility WorkerPermanent DisabilityThird Party RecoveryCreditLoss of ConsortiumComparative NegligenceIndependent Contractor

References

Case No. ADJ11670075

Regular

Sep 15, 2022

JACK RIEGER vs. FOX SPORTS 1, LLC, DISCOVERY RE/TRAVELERS USF&G, GALLAGHER BASSETT SERVICES

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board affirmed a WCJ's award finding applicant's severe injuries from a five-story fall compensable. The Board rejected defendant's claims of judicial bias and dismissed their petitions for disqualification. Defendant's arguments that the fall was not work-related, intentionally self-inflicted, or a suicide attempt failed due to insufficient proof and the liberal construction of workers' compensation laws favoring injured employees. The Board found the WCJ properly limited testimony of a defense expert, and that medical records sufficiently supported the findings of injury despite the absence of a QME report.

AOE/COELabor Code section 3600(a)(5)Labor Code section 3600(a)(6)Petition for ReconsiderationPetition for Removaldisqualification of WCJbiasevidentiary decisionfinal ordersubstantial prejudice

References

Case No. ADJ7836773

Regular

Jul 09, 2012

Francisco Flores vs. Superior Carpet Works, Inc., Preferred Employers

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration of a sanctions order against the Law Offices of John A. Mendoza. The Appeals Board is also notifying the law firm of its intention to impose additional sanctions. This is due to alleged misrepresentations of fact in the petition for reconsideration and violations of Appeals Board rules regarding attaching previously filed documents. The law firm is granted twenty days to show cause why these additional sanctions should not be imposed.

WORKERS' COMPENSATION APPEALS BOARDSANCTIONSRECONSIDERATIONDEPOSITION ATTORNEY FEESLABOR CODE SECTION 5710LABOR CODE SECTION 5813APPEALS BOARD RULESDUE PROCESSMISREPRESENTATIONSFAILURE TO RESPOND

References

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Updated Daily

Case Law Database

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

Case No. ADJ8740864, ADJ8764475, ADJ8960944

Regular

Oct 16, 2025

KATHY BRANDOW vs. LAW OFFICES OF WAYNE SINGER, THE HARTFORD

WCABPetition for DisqualificationWCJ biasconflict of interestLabor Code 5311Code of Civil Procedure 641unqualified opinionenmitybiasWCAB Rule 10960

References

Case No. ADJ10558753

Regular

Apr 25, 2018

DIANE SCHRADER vs. THE HETTENA LAW FIRM, TRAVELERS PROPERTY CASUALTY COMPANY OF AMERICA

References

Case No. ADJ3882107 (VNO 0535948)

Regular

Aug 14, 2012

PETER ARCARESE vs. LAW OFFICES OF MANUEL MILLER, STATE FARM FIRE AND CASUALTY COMPANY

Petition for DisqualificationDismissedTimely-filedWorkers' Compensation Appeals BoardAdministrative Law JudgeReport and RecommendationVNO 0535948ADJ3882107

References

Case No. ADJ7540212

Regular

Nov 07, 2017

EXEEN LEZAMA vs. CPEhr/DORDULIAN LAW GROUP, ZURICH AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY

References

Case No. ADJ3660859, ADJ4106950, ADJ876448

Regular

Jun 30, 2025

JOAN LEOPOLD vs. LAW OFFICES OF MARVYN GORDON, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

WCABPetition for DisqualificationAdministrative Law Judge (WCJ)BiasTelephonic HearingAttorney FeesLien ClaimantLabor Code Section 5311Code of Civil Procedure Section 641WCAB Rule 10960

References

Case No. ADJ7630224

Regular

Nov 29, 2012

TINA SPERBER vs. LAW OFFICES OF LISA M. PACIONE

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardDenying ReconsiderationLegal AssistantLaw OfficesInvestigationImplied AuthorizationCredibilityBenefit to DefendantFamily Law ProceedingsAdministrative Law Judge

References

Case No. ADJ7192006

Regular

Apr 01, 2014

GENE GOODREAU vs. LAW OFFICES OF MARC ELLIOTT GROSSMAN, THE HARTFORD

References

Case No. AHM 097527

Regular

Jul 24, 2007

WILLIAM SCOTT vs. DOWNEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, SCRMA

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardReconsiderationIndustrial InjuryUtility WorkerPermanent DisabilityThird Party RecoveryCreditLoss of ConsortiumComparative NegligenceIndependent Contractor

References

Case No. ADJ11670075

Regular

Sep 15, 2022

JACK RIEGER vs. FOX SPORTS 1, LLC, DISCOVERY RE/TRAVELERS USF&G, GALLAGHER BASSETT SERVICES

AOE/COELabor Code section 3600(a)(5)Labor Code section 3600(a)(6)Petition for ReconsiderationPetition for Removaldisqualification of WCJbiasevidentiary decisionfinal ordersubstantial prejudice

References

Case No. ADJ7836773

Regular

Jul 09, 2012

Francisco Flores vs. Superior Carpet Works, Inc., Preferred Employers

WORKERS' COMPENSATION APPEALS BOARDSANCTIONSRECONSIDERATIONDEPOSITION ATTORNEY FEESLABOR CODE SECTION 5710LABOR CODE SECTION 5813APPEALS BOARD RULESDUE PROCESSMISREPRESENTATIONSFAILURE TO RESPOND

References

Showing 1-10 of 3,214 results

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