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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 The WCAB rescinded the decision and returned the case to the trial level, finding the medical opinions of Dr.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. ADJ2373427 (VNO 0534638) ADJ3251847 (VNO 0534641) ADJ3606185 (VNO 0540390)
Regular
Apr 12, 2013

JAMES GILLENWATERS vs. CITY OF LOS ANGELES

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) granted the defendant's Petition for Removal. The WCAB rescinded the trial judge's order requiring an Agreed Medical Evaluator (AME) to assess the cause of death. This was because no formal Application for Adjudication of Claim for death benefits had been filed, rendering the issue not properly before the WCJ. The matter is returned to the trial level to address any potential accrued benefits prior to the applicant's death.

Petition for RemovalAgreed Medical EvaluatorCause of DeathDeath ClaimApplication for Adjudication of ClaimInter VivosAccrued BenefitsMandatory Settlement ConferencePetition for DismissalLack of Prosecution
References
Case No. ADJ9440770 ADJ8897603
Regular
Nov 02, 2016

LEE WOOLEVER (Deceased); PENNY WOOLEVER; DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS DEATH WITHOUT DEPENDENTS UNIT vs. CITY OF LONG BEACH

This case concerns a claim for workers' compensation death benefits by Penny Woolever, the ex-wife of deceased employee Lee Woolever. Ms. Woolever argued she was a total dependent despite their divorce due to ongoing financial support and a close relationship. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board affirmed the finding that she was not a dependent, as their divorce was final and they never resumed cohabitation. The Board distinguished this case from precedent allowing dependency claims based on reconciliation. Consequently, the death benefit was awarded to the Department of Industrial Relations, Death Without Dependents Unit.

Esophageal cancerDeath benefitsDependency claimLabor Code section 3502Reconciliation of marriageSpousal supportTotal dependentDivorce decreeWCJ ReportLloyd Corporation
References
Case No. ADJ3525697 (LAO 0534774) ADJ2342373 (LAO 0512482) ADJ1310306 (LAO 0568035) ADJ2645702 (LAO 0519888) ADJ1384751 (LAO 0568036) ADJ2871875 (ANA 0235799)
Regular
Feb 03, 2017

ALICE BRYANT vs. REGENTS OF THE UNIVERITY OF CALIFORNIA, permissibly self-insured, UCLA MEDICAL CENTER; SEDGWICK CLAIMS MANAGEMENT SERVICES

This case involves applicant Alice Bryant's petition for reconsideration of prior dismissed workers' compensation claims and a Labor Code section 132a retaliation claim. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) denied reconsideration, upholding the administrative law judge's findings. The WCAB concluded that Bryant's claims were previously dismissed, with some dismissed by her own request and others for failure to prosecute. Furthermore, the WCAB found that Bryant failed to demonstrate extrinsic fraud and lacked the required diligence to reopen these final dismissals, even with newly discovered evidence.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardRegents of the University of CaliforniaSedgwick Claims Management ServicesPetition for ReconsiderationFindings and OrdersWorkers' Compensation Administrative Law JudgeLabor Code section 132aRetaliation claimExtrinsic fraudDismissed claims
References
Case No. ADJ1282419 (LAO 0846452) ADJ915214 (LAO 0854736)
Regular
Feb 01, 2010

VALERIE VANCE DILLON vs. TJ MAXX, CNA CLAIMS PLUS

This case involves a Compromise and Release agreement between the applicant and defendants. The Board granted reconsideration, rescinded the prior decision, and returned the matter to the trial level. This action is contingent on the workers' compensation administrative law judge approving the settlement. If not approved, the original decision could be reinstated, with the right to seek reconsideration.

Compromise and ReleasePetition for ReconsiderationGrant ReconsiderationRescind DecisionTrial LevelWorkers' Compensation Appeals BoardAdministrative Law JudgeSalvage and ClaimsSalvage and ClaimsSalvage and Claims
References
Case No. ADJ799117 (LBO 0393727)
Regular
Jan 14, 2010

FRANK CRUZ (Deceased), DIANA CRUZ (Widow) vs. KRETSCHMAR & SMITH, INC., STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

This case involves a widow's claim for death benefits following her husband's fatal industrial injury. The employer argued the claim was barred by a "carve-out" agreement under Labor Code §3201.5, which allows alternative dispute resolution for unionized employees. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board rescinded the dismissal, finding that carve-out agreements under §3201.5 apply only to employees, not to dependents' death benefit claims. The Board determined that dependents' death benefits are independent rights, not derived from the employee's claim. The case is returned for further proceedings on the merits of the widow's claim.

Carve-out agreementLabor Code § 3201.5Death benefitsDependentsCollective bargaining agreementWorkers' Compensation Appeals BoardReconsiderationRescinded orderLabor Code § 3202Independent claim
References
Case No. ADJ4464746 (SAC 0358795)
Regular
Oct 07, 2014

ANDREW THOMPSON (Deceased), EDITH THOMPSON (Spouse) vs. HUHTAMAKI AMERICAS, INC., ACE AMERICAN INSURANCE CO.

This case concerns a workers' compensation death benefit claim filed by Edith Thompson, widow of Andrew Thompson, who died from asbestos exposure. The defendant sought reconsideration of a prior ruling that her claim was not time-barred. The Board rescinded the prior decision, finding that Labor Code section 5406.5 requires death benefit claims for asbestos-related deaths to be filed within one year of the date of death. Edith Thompson's application, filed over a year after her husband's death, was therefore dismissed as untimely.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardAndrew ThompsonEdith ThompsonHuhtamaki AmericasInc.ACE American Insurance Co.toxic exposureasbestoscumulative traumadeath benefits
References
Case No. ADJ8221321
Regular
Nov 09, 2020

ANTHONY PAUL MAGOULAS, PAUL MAGOULAS (deceased) vs. LAS POSAS COUNTRY CLUB, HARTFORD ACCIDENT AND INDMENITY

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board rescinded the original findings and returned the case to trial for further proceedings. The Board determined the death benefit claim was timely filed under Labor Code § 5406, even though it was erroneously filed under the decedent's inter vivos claim number. Additionally, the Board found that dependency is determined at the time of injury, not death, and the original finding of no dependent was legally inaccurate and unsupported by the record. Therefore, the WCAB remanded the case to address the dependency issue and potentially assign a separate adjudication number to the death claim.

WCABReconsiderationDeath ClaimStatute of LimitationsLabor Code Section 5406Inter Vivos ClaimDependencyLabor Code Section 3501Adjudication NumberLiberal Construction
References
Case No. ADJ10730267
Regular
Nov 18, 2019

SA'EEDA JOHNWELL (dependent), JOSEPH JOHNWELL (deceased) vs. DUARTE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, permissibly self-insured

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted the applicant's petition for reconsideration, rescinding the prior findings. The Board found that the statute of limitations defense for the death claim was not sufficiently proven by the defendant. Specifically, the defendant failed to establish when the applicant knew or should have known the decedent's death was industrially related, which is crucial for determining the date of injury in cumulative trauma cases. Furthermore, the Board found that the amendment to the death claim application should relate back to the original filing date and was improperly dismissed. The case was returned to the trial level for further proceedings.

Labor Code section 5406statute of limitationsdeath claimcumulative traumadate of injury240 weeksknowledge of industrial causationpetition for reconsiderationfindings of factamendment to application
References
Case No. ADJ8822343
Regular
Aug 29, 2019

MARY LEON (Deceased) vs. DSS (IN HOME SUPPORT COUNTY OF LA), MEALS ON WHEELS

This case concerns a death benefit claim following the industrial death of Maria Leon. The applicant, the Death Without Dependents unit (DWD), sought to recover death benefits arguing the decedent left no dependents. However, the Board found substantial evidence that the decedent's sons, Juan Manuel Vasquez and Julian Vasquez, were partial dependents, thus DWD failed to meet its burden of proof. Consequently, DWD's claim for death benefits was denied, and the Board amended the original findings to reflect this outcome.

Death benefitsDWDdependentsstatutory death benefitpartial dependencycivil recovery creditstatute of limitationsburden of proofLabor Code section 4706.5employer liability
References
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