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

Case No. ADJ1177048 (SFO 0487779)
En Banc
Apr 06, 2009

WANDA OGILVIE vs. CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO

The Appeals Board grants petitions for reconsideration from both the applicant and the defendant to further study the issues raised regarding the Diminished Future Earning Capacity (DFEC) and allows for the submission of amicus curiae briefs.

DFEC2005 Schedulediminished future earning capacityrebutting DFECthreshold issuereconsiderationen banc decisionamicus curiae briefjudicial noticelegislative history
References
Case No. ADJ1177048
Significant
Feb 03, 2009

Wanda Ogilvie, Applicant vs. City and County of San Francisco, Permissibly Self-Insured

The Appeals Board holds that the diminished future earning capacity (DFEC) portion of the 2005 Permanent Disability Rating Schedule is rebuttable and establishes a specific, formula-based method for doing so. The matter was remanded to the WCJ for further proceedings consistent with this new methodology.

Diminished Future Earning CapacityDFEC2005 ScheduleRebuttalRAND StudyLabor Code section 4660Vocational RehabilitationProportional Earnings LossWhole Person ImpairmentRating to Loss Ratio
References
Case No. ADJ2110739 (MON 0313927)
Regular
Oct 01, 2010

Rosalind Eskridge (Vallery) vs. TARGET STORES, SEDGWICK CLAIMS MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.

This case returns to the trial level for a comprehensive re-analysis of applicant's permanent disability rating, specifically focusing on the Diminished Future Earning Capacity (DFEC) adjustment factor. The Board rescinded the prior award because the judge's decision did not fully adhere to the *Ogilvie* en banc decisions, which mandate a specific four-step analysis for rebutting the DFEC. The judge must now conduct a complete *Ogilvie* analysis, potentially developing the record further, to determine if the applicant's demonstrated earning loss and other relevant factors, including *Montana* factors, justify an individualized DFEC adjustment over the scheduled rating. The applicant bears the burden of proving that her evidence substantially overcomes the prima facie validity of the scheduled DFEC.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardDiminished Future Earning CapacityDFECPermanent Disability Rating Schedule2005 PDRSOgilvie analysisAgreed Medical ExaminerDisability Evaluation UnitDEUAgreed Medical Examiner
References
Case No. ADJ9150217
Regular
Jun 15, 2015

Raffi Khandikian vs. CITY OF LOS ANGELES, SUBSEQUENT INJURIES BENEFITS TRUST FUND

This case concerns applicant Raffi Khandikian's eligibility for Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund (SIBTF) benefits based on a cumulative trauma injury to his heart. The central dispute is whether the 35% permanent disability threshold for SIBTF eligibility, as established by Labor Code section 4751, should be calculated before or after an adjustment for diminished future earning capacity (DFEC). The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) granted reconsideration, finding that the DFEC adjustment *should* be included in the calculation, as Labor Code section 4751 only excludes adjustments for age and occupation. Consequently, the WCAB amended the prior decision to find the applicant met the SIBTF threshold and returned the case for benefit calculation. A dissenting opinion argued that DFEC should be excluded, relying on statutory interpretation and precedent that emphasized medical impairment.

Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust FundSIBTFLabor Code section 4751Permanent DisabilityWhole Person ImpairmentWPIDiminished Future Earning CapacityDFECAgreed Medical ExaminerAdministrative Law Judge
References
Case No. ADJ1932557 (SJO 0267873)
Regular
Mar 20, 2009

JOHN VLCEK vs. THE HOME DEPOT, permissibly self-insured

This case involves an admitted industrial knee injury where the applicant disputed the awarded 4% permanent disability. The Appeals Board granted reconsideration to address how diminished future earning capacity (DFEC) and AMA Guides impairments are rebutted under the 2005 Schedule. The Board is returning the case to the trial level to allow the judge and parties to apply recent en banc decisions in *Ogilvie* and *Almaraz*. These decisions clarify the methods for rebutting the DFEC and AMA Guides portions of the permanent disability rating schedule.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardReconsiderationPermanent DisabilityDiminished Future Earning CapacityDFECAMA Guides2005 ScheduleOgilvieAlmarazPanel Qualified Medical Evaluator
References
Case No. ADJ3130090 (SFO 0488450)
Regular
Mar 12, 2009

GUSTAVO CORDON vs. GARL FORCE CONSTRUCTION, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration to address the defendant's challenges to a prior award. The administrative law judge had determined a $42\%$ permanent disability rating by rebutting the diminished future earning capacity (DFEC) provisions of the 2005 Schedule. However, the Board rescinded the award, remanding the case due to the WCJ's failure to follow the procedural requirements for rebutting the DFEC established in the en banc decision of *Ogilvie*. The Board emphasized that the WCJ must follow *Ogilvie* and may also consider further evidence on AMA Guides rebuttal issues consistent with *Almaraz*.

DFECpermanent disability ratingvocational rehabilitation expertSchedule for Rating Permanent DisabilitiesAMA Guidesrebuttableen banc decisionOgilvie v. City and County of San FranciscoAlmaraz v. Environmental Recovery ServicesLabor Code section 5811
References
Case No. ADJ6721939
Regular
Mar 01, 2010

BERTHA NORIEGA GARCIA vs. PATRICK L. HINRICHSEN, CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES INSURANCE COMPANY

This case is remanded for further proceedings because the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) did not fully analyze the Diminished Future Earning Capacity (DFEC) adjustment factor under the *Ogilvie* decisions. The ALJ improperly relied solely on applicant's testimony for lost earnings without a proper *Ogilvie* analysis, including the duration of post-injury earnings and consideration of other factors affecting earning capacity. The ALJ must conduct a complete *Ogilvie* analysis, weigh the evidence, and explain how the adjusted DFEC factor reflects the applicant's actual earning capacity compared to the scheduled rating. The Board also clarified that temporary disability indemnity is not to be treated as post-injury earnings.

Diminished Future Earning CapacityDFECOgilvie analysisRebuttalScheduled Permanent Disability RatingPost-injury earningsEarnings lossTemporary disability indemnityPermanent and stationary dateTriers-of-fact
References
Case No. ADJ3385753 (SFO 0495153)
Regular
Mar 17, 2009

LORETTA L. ENNON vs. WALGREENS, permissibly self-insured

This case involves an admitted industrial injury to the applicant's back and hip. The primary dispute concerns the applicant's permanent disability rating, which the trial judge set at 41% based on a vocational expert's opinion on diminished future earning capacity (DFEC). The defendant appealed, arguing the rating was excessive and the expert's opinion improperly applied. The Appeals Board rescinded the original award, remanding the case to the trial level to apply recent en banc decisions regarding the rebuttal of the DFEC and AMA Guides portions of the permanent disability rating schedule. This remand allows for further proceedings to ensure correct application of these established legal standards.

Workers Compensation Appeals BoardReconsiderationPermanent DisabilityDiminished Future Earning CapacityDFEC2005 ScheduleAMA GuidesVocational ExpertJeffrey MalmuthAgreed Medical Evaluator
References
Case No. ADJ2079252
Regular
Jan 25, 2010

JON SHINI vs. PACIFIC COAST AUTO BODY & TRUCK, FARMERS SANTA ANA

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) granted reconsideration and rescinded the prior award due to the administrative law judge's (WCJ) failure to fully analyze the issues presented in *Ogilvie I* and *Ogilvie II*. Specifically, the WCJ improperly applied the diminished future earning capacity (DFEC) rebuttal formula without sufficient evidentiary development regarding the applicant's post-injury earnings and potential for malingering. The Board remanded the case for further proceedings to conduct a complete *Ogilvie* analysis, including weighing the scheduled rating against the adjusted DFEC factor and considering factors such as the applicant's credibility. The defendant's contention regarding industrial injury to the psyche was not addressed, with the Board allowing it to be raised in further proceedings.

OgilvieDiminished Future Earning CapacityDFECReconsiderationRebuttalPermanent Disability Rating SchedulePost-injury earningsEarning capacityAgreed Medical EvaluatorMalingering
References
Case No. ADJ425881 (MON 0349358) ADJ1664800 (MON 0330278)
Regular
Feb 23, 2009

Jerry Salmeron vs. COCA COLA ENTERPRISES

This case concerns an applicant's admitted industrial injuries to his low back, psyche, and hernias, and his subsequent permanent disability ratings. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) granted reconsideration to address disputes regarding the proper application of the 2005 Schedule for Rating Permanent Disabilities, particularly concerning diminished future earning capacity (DFEC). The WCAB rescinded the prior awards and remanded the cases to the trial level to allow the judge and parties to apply recent en banc decisions clarifying how the DFEC and AMA Guides portions of the schedule can be rebutted. The decision emphasizes that rebuttal must be consistent with Labor Code section 4660 and specific en banc rulings on evidence and methodology.

WCABSalmeronCoca Cola EnterprisesDecision After ReconsiderationFindings and Awardpermanent disabilityrebutted2005 Schedulediminished future earning capacityDFEC
References
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