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

Case No. ADJ7689073
Regular
Jul 03, 2012

WILLIAM OLIVE vs. COUNTY OF BUTTE, SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT

In *Olive v. County of Butte*, the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied the applicant's petition for reconsideration. The Board adopted and incorporated the reasoning of the workers' compensation administrative law judge's report in its decision. Therefore, the applicant's request for a rehearing or further review of the original decision was refused.

WORKERS' COMPENSATION APPEALS BOARDCOUNTY OF BUTTESHERIFF'S DEPARTMENTPermissibly Self-InsuredYORKADJ7689073ORDER DENYING RECONSIDERATIONPetition for Reconsiderationadministrative law judgerecord
References
Case No. ADJ8172168; ADJ8075196
Regular
Apr 17, 2013

RONALD PROCK vs. COUNTY OF BUTTE, Permissibly Self-Insured, JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY

This case involves a deputy sheriff, Ronald Prock, who suffered disabling heart symptoms in 2011, years after his retirement in 2001. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) affirmed the prior findings, establishing the date of injury as December 31, 2002, to December 31, 2003, for cumulative trauma exposure. This determination assigns liability to the County of Butte JPA, as Prock was not employed by them or any other entity on the date his disability manifested and was known to be work-related (July 3, 2011). The WCAB clarifies that Labor Code section 5412's date of injury, which occurred after the last date of exposure, controls liability in this situation.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardRonald ProckCounty of ButteJoint Powers AuthorityPermissibly Self-InsuredDeputy SheriffCumulative TraumaDate of InjuryManifestation of DisabilityStatute of Limitations
References
Case No. ADJ7214041
Regular
Jan 23, 2013

STEPHEN SHELDON vs. BUTTE COUNTY FIRE

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board dismissed Butte County Fire's Petition for Reconsideration. The Board found the petition was improperly filed because it was directed at an interim order returning the case to the trial level for further development of the medical record. Such an order is not a "final" order that determines substantive rights or liabilities, and therefore is not subject to reconsideration. The substantive arguments of the petition were not addressed due to this procedural defect.

WCABPetition for ReconsiderationFinal OrderGrant ReconsiderationRescinded DecisionFurther DevelopmentMedical RecordBurden of ProofIndustrial InjurySubstantive Right
References
Case No. ADJ6657560
Regular
Jul 08, 2013

MADELINE PORTER vs. TARZANA TREATMENT CENTERS

This case involves a psychiatric technician claiming industrial injury due to workplace harassment. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration, reversing the finding of industrial psychiatric injury. The Board determined that the applicant's psychiatric injury was substantially caused by lawful, good faith personnel actions, which are barred under Labor Code section 3208.3(h). However, the Board affirmed the finding of orthopedic permanent disability, reducing it to 6%.

Good faith personnel actionLabor Code section 3208.3(h)psychiatric injury causationsubstantial causereprimandsverbal criticismCounty of Sacramento v. BrooksLarch v. Contra Costa CountyCan v. Alameda CountyCounty of Butte v. Purcell
References
Case No. ADJ4327763 (AHM 0109949) ADJ1603173 (AHM 0095602) ADJ4654695 (AHM 0095770) ADJ2408352 (AHM 2408352)
Regular
Nov 24, 2008

DONALD HORTON vs. LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT, Permissibly Self-Insured

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied the Los Angeles County Fire Department's petition for reconsideration. The Board affirmed the administrative law judge's findings that the applicant, Donald Horton, sustained industrial injuries to multiple body parts, resulting in 93% permanent disability. The defendant failed to meet its burden to prove apportionment to prior industrial injuries as required by law.

Workers Compensation Appeals BoardLos Angeles County Fire DepartmentDonald Hortonindustrial injuryfirefighterpermanent disabilityapportionmentLabor Code section 4664Benson v. The Permanente Medical GroupAgreed Medical Evaluator
References
Case No. ADJ10826283
Regular
Mar 12, 2019

PETER HLINKA vs. COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board affirmed a finding of fact that an inmate was an employee of the County of Santa Barbara for workers' compensation purposes. The inmate voluntarily applied for and accepted a work assignment in the jail, which was not a condition of his incarceration. He received consideration in the form of better housing, food, and mobility, and the County's own resolution authorizing inmate work was permissive rather than compulsory. The Board also admonished the defendant for improperly citing an unpublished case.

Inmate EmploymentWorkers CompensationCounty JailVoluntary WorkConsiderationControlPenal Code 4017Rowland v. County of SonomaPruitt v. Workers' Comp. Appeals Bd.Labor Code 3351
References
Case No. VNO 423671
Regular
Jun 13, 2008

NORMA RIVAS vs. COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES

The County of Los Angeles initially filed a petition for reconsideration but then dismissed it after changing legal counsel. The Board will dismiss this petition. Subsequently, the County filed a petition to set aside the original award; the Board grants reconsideration of the award and remands the case to the trial level to determine if good cause exists to set aside the award.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardPetition for ReconsiderationDismissalGranting ReconsiderationDecision After ReconsiderationStipulated AwardPetition to Set Aside AwardGood CauseRescinded AwardTrial Level Proceedings
References
Case No. ADJ8059593
Regular
May 30, 2017

BRIAN VON DURING vs. COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied the County of Los Angeles' petition for reconsideration. The County argued the applicant, injured while participating in a work release program, was not an employee and was exempt from workers' compensation. The Board adopted the Judge's report, upholding the original Findings and Award granting benefits. The applicant's eligibility as an employee under the work release program was implicitly confirmed.

Work release programinmate exemptionwork release applicantself-insured employerWCJ report adoptionPetition for Reconsideration denialFindings and Awardworkers' compensation eligibilityemployee statusCounty Jail exemption
References
Case No. ADJ7816135
Regular
May 07, 2012

BRYAN FLICKER vs. COUNTY OF BUTTE

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration to review the administrative law judge's (WCJ) finding of industrial injury for a correctional lieutenant. The WCJ had applied Labor Code section 3213.3, which presumes lower back impairments in peace officers required to wear duty belts. The Board found insufficient evidence that the applicant was required to wear a duty belt as a condition of employment as a peace officer, which is a prerequisite for the presumption's application. Therefore, the Board rescinded the award and returned the case for a determination of industrial injury without reference to the duty belt presumption, allowing for further record development.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardBryan FlickerCounty of ButteADJ7816135Labor Code section 3213.3correctional lieutenantcumulative injurylow back impairmentpeace officerduty belt presumption
References
Case No. ADJ6748204
Regular
Jan 17, 2012

Stewart Espinoza vs. Los Angeles County Jail, Tristar Irvine

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration and reversed a judge's finding of employment for inmate Stewart Espinoza. The Board found that Espinoza, an inmate injured while working in the County Jail kitchen, was not an employee for workers' compensation purposes. This was because a County ordinance allowed inmates to be compelled to perform labor, negating a voluntary employment relationship. Therefore, the applicant was not an employee entitled to workers' compensation benefits.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardLos Angeles County Jailinmate laboremployee statusvoluntary workcompulsory laborPenal Code Section 4017Government Code Section 25359SCIF v. Workmen's Comp. Appeals Bd. (Childs)Parsons v. Workers' Comp. Appeals Bd.
References
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