DICK AMBROSE vs. BALTIMORE RAVENS/CLEVELAND BROWNS
This case concerns Dick Ambrose's workers' compensation claim against the Baltimore Ravens/Cleveland Browns. The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) found that California's workers' compensation jurisdiction was exempt under Labor Code Section 3600.5(b) because the applicant was only temporarily in California and the employer provided coverage under Ohio law. The Appeals Board affirmed the ALJ's decision, largely adopting the ALJ's reasoning regarding the admissibility of evidence and the application of Section 3600.5(b). Commissioner Sweeney dissented, arguing that the applicant's routine work in California over a decade made his presence more than temporary, and also raised concerns about Ohio's reciprocal protections and the employer's self-insurance compliance.