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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 The WCAB rescinded the decision and returned the case to the trial level, finding the medical opinions of Dr.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. ADJ9320206
Regular
May 08, 2014

MIKE VILLALOBOS vs. WESTERN VILLAGE HEALTH CLUB, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

This case involves applicant Mike Villalobos seeking removal of a decision denying his request to change venue from San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara. The WCAB denied removal, holding that Santa Barbara only has a satellite office of the Oxnard District Office, not a formal WCAB district office. The Board deferred to the DWC's administrative construction that only district offices count for venue purposes, citing practical differences in staffing and facilities. Therefore, the original venue in San Luis Obispo was upheld.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardPetition for RemovalChange of VenueDistrict OfficeSatellite OfficeAdministrative ConstructionLabor Code Section 5501.5Goleta District OfficeOxnard District OfficeSanta Barbara Satellite Office
References
Case No. ADJ1835591
Regular
Apr 08, 2014

KEVIN MERRIMAN vs. MERRIMAN TRUCKING, L.W.P. COMMERCIAL CLAIMS

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) denied the applicant's petition for removal. The WCAB found that transferring hearings from the Santa Barbara satellite office to Oxnard was necessary due to space limitations in Santa Barbara. The WCAB has the discretion to schedule hearings at different district offices for logistical reasons, and the applicant failed to demonstrate significant prejudice or irreparable harm. Additionally, CourtCall options are available to mitigate travel difficulties for attorneys and unrepresented applicants.

Petition for RemovalWorkers' Compensation Appeals BoardDivision of Workers' CompensationDistrict OfficeVenueCourtCallMandatory Settlement ConferenceExpedited HearingsSatellite OfficeJudicial Notice
References
Case No. ADJ4295446 (GOL 0087464)
Regular
Mar 20, 2014

Virginia Landaw vs. Toyota of Santa Barbara, Public Service Mutual Insurance Company

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) denied the applicant's petition for removal, which sought to have hearings held at the Santa Barbara district office rather than Oxnard. The WCAB found that the relocation was necessary due to insufficient space at the Santa Barbara facility, impacting lobby, hearing room, and parking availability. The Board reaffirmed its authority to calendar hearings at different offices based on available resources and cited the applicant's minimal increased travel as insufficient grounds for removal. The WCAB also highlighted the availability of CourtCall and the ongoing efforts to secure a more suitable Santa Barbara location.

Petition for RemovalWorkers' Compensation Appeals BoardDivision of Workers' CompensationDistrict OfficeVenueCourtCallMandatory Settlement ConferenceExpedited HearingJudicial NoticeAdministrative Law Judge
References
Case No. ADJ8782360
Regular
Jun 01, 2018

Eldridge Taylor vs. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

The California Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied a petition for reconsideration, affirming a prior award to Eldridge Taylor. The award included permanent disability for cumulative trauma injuries, sleep disorder, and hearing loss. The employer argued the sleep disorder rating was subsumed by orthopedic pain, the hearing loss lacked substantial evidence, and the WCJ failed to properly apportion non-industrial factors. The Board adopted the WCJ's report, finding sufficient medical evidence for the sleep disorder and hearing loss. The dissenting opinion argued the sleep disorder award should be rescinded as it stemmed solely from industrial pain already rated.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardEldridge TaylorCalifornia Department of Corrections and RehabilitationLegally UninsuredState Compensation Insurance FundADJ8782360Cumulative TraumaCorrectional OfficerParole OfficerSleep Disorder
References
Case No. ADJ1259001
Regular
Apr 08, 2014

Patricia Scharli vs. County of Santa Barbara, Corvel Corporation

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) denied Patricia Scharli's Petition for Removal. The denial was based on the administrative law judge's report, which concluded that moving a mandatory settlement conference from Santa Barbara to Oxnard due to space limitations at the new Santa Barbara office was a mere inconvenience, not significant prejudice. The WCAB has statutory authority to determine hearing locations based on budgetary and space constraints, and can calendar hearings at different offices even without formally changing venue. The WCAB encourages the use of CourtCall for attorneys to mitigate travel difficulties for applicants.

Petition for RemovalWorkers' Compensation Appeals BoardDivision of Workers' CompensationDistrict OfficeVenueCalendaring AuthorityMedical Treatment Lien ConferenceCourtCallMandatory Settlement ConferenceExpedited Hearings
References
Case No. ADJ10053885
Regular
Dec 24, 2015

MARK NEVITT vs. PARAMOUNT PAINTING, MARKEL SERVICES

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) granted the applicant's petition for removal, overturning an order denying a change of venue. The WCAB found that venue was proper in Santa Barbara because the applicant resides and his attorney's principal place of business is located there. The Board determined that the Santa Barbara office provides the same essential services as other district offices, making it a valid location for venue under Labor Code section 5501.5. Consequently, the case venue was transferred to the Santa Barbara District Office.

Petition for RemovalOrder Denying Change of VenueLabor Code Section 5501.5VenueDistrict OfficeSanta Barbara District OfficeSan Luis Obispo District OfficeApplicant's ResidencePlace of InjuryAttorney's Principal Place of Business
References
Case No. ADJ8534435
Regular
Jan 11, 2013

RONALD EHMAN vs. AMERICAN CIVIL CONSTRUCTORS, OLD REPUBLIC INSURANCE CORPORATION

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board dismissed the defendant's Petition for Reconsideration because venue orders are not considered final. The Board also denied the defendant's Petition for Removal, finding the WCJ properly transferred venue to the Oakland District Office. This decision was based on the applicant's residence in Solano County and the injury occurring in Contra Costa County, neither of which have district offices, and Oakland being the nearest office to the injury site. The defendant failed to demonstrate irreparable harm would result from the venue change.

VenueReconsiderationRemovalLabor Code section 5501.5District OfficeApplicant ResidenceInjury LocationContra Costa CountySolano CountyOakland District Office
References
Case No. ADJ8962530
Regular
Oct 05, 2015

Angelina Campos vs. INTEGRATED HEALTH MANAGEMENT SERVICES, CNA CLAIMS PLUS

This case involves a workers' compensation applicant who initially filed in Santa Barbara but was rerouted to Oxnard and then San Luis Obispo. The applicant, now represented, sought to transfer venue back to Santa Barbara, arguing it was the proper location due to her residence, attorney's office, and original filing intent. The WCAB granted removal, rescinded the WCJ's denial, and ordered the venue transferred to Santa Barbara, finding it a valid district office with full services. The decision emphasizes that venue is mandatory in the county of residence or attorney's principal place of business if a district office exists there.

WCABPetition for RemovalChange of VenueLabor Code Section 5501.5Pro PerSan Luis Obispo District OfficeSanta Barbara District OfficeOxnard District OfficeApplication for Adjudication of ClaimCumulative Injury
References
Case No. ADJ9166662
Regular
Apr 04, 2014

EDITH BARRETT vs. PACIFICA GRADUATE INSTITUTE, TRAVELERS CASUALTY AND SURETY COMPANY, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) denied the applicant's petition for removal. The WCAB affirmed the administrative law judge's report, which found no irreparable harm from rescheduling a conference to the Oxnard office due to space limitations at the Santa Barbara satellite office. The WCAB reiterated its authority to calendar hearings at different locations based on available resources and noted that CourtCall is available for remote appearances. The applicant's attorney failed to demonstrate significant prejudice or substantial harm resulting from the venue change.

Petition for RemovalWorkers' Compensation Appeals BoardDivision of Workers' CompensationVenueDistrict OfficeHearing LocationBudgetary ConstraintsJudicial ResourcesSpace ResourcesCourtCall
References
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