CompFox Logo
AboutWorkflowFeaturesPricingCase LawInsights

Updated Daily

Case Law Database

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 The WCAB rescinded the decision and returned the case to the trial level, finding the medical opinions of Dr.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. ADJ3133261 (VNO 0400017)
Regular
Aug 17, 2010

FELIPE TOLENTINO vs. CONCO CEMENT, CALIFORNIA INSURANCE GUARANTEE ASSOCIATION, XCHANGING INC., FREMONT COMPENSATION

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) dismissed the lien claimant's petition for reconsideration as premature. The WCAB granted the defendant's petition for reconsideration regarding the temporary disability overpayment issue, deferring it for further proceedings. The Board affirmed the WCJ's findings on injury causation and permanent disability but amended the decision to clarify the overpayment issue. Finally, the WCAB issued a notice of intention to sanction defendant's counsel for attaching and citing unadmitted evidence.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardFELIPE TOLENTINOCONCO CEMENTCALIFORNIA INSURANCE GUARANTEE ASSOCIATIONXCHANGING INC.FREMONT COMPENSATIONliquidationADJ3133261VNO 0400017OPINION AND ORDERS DISMISSING PETITION FOR RECONSIDERATION AND GRANTING PETITION FOR RECONSIDERATION
References
Case No. AHM 0123957
Regular
Jan 07, 2008

CHRISTOPHER L PREVATT vs. COUNTY OF ORANGE

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied the employer's petition for reconsideration, upholding the administrative law judge's findings. The Board affirmed that the applicant sustained a psychiatric injury predominantly caused by actual employment events, specifically a retaliatory reassignment. Furthermore, the Board found the employer failed to establish that the reassignment was a lawful, nondiscriminatory, or good faith personnel action.

Psychiatric injuryPredominant causeLawful personnel actionNondiscriminatoryGood faithReassignmentTB ProgramHIV+RetaliatoryOffice of Compliance
References
Case No. ADJ8128282
Regular
Jan 23, 2014

ANGELA EGBIKUADJE vs. CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATIONS, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration and rescinded a prior award, returning the case for further proceedings. The defendant, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, argued that the applicant's psychiatric injury claim was preempted by the ADA and not proven under Labor Code section 3208.3. The Board found the original decision lacked proper analysis regarding predominant industrial causation and the good faith personnel action defense. Therefore, the case was remanded for further development of the record, including expert medical opinion on these issues.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardAngela EgbikuadjeCalifornia Department of Corrections and RehabilitationLegally UninsuredState Compensation Insurance FundADJ8128282Van Nuys District OfficeReconsiderationFindings and AwardIndustrial cumulative trauma injury
References
Case No. ADJ6603653
Regular
Mar 29, 2010

PEGGY MILLER vs. STATE OF CALIFORNIA, DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH, Legally Uninsured, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

This case concerns applicant Peggy Miller's claim for a psychiatric injury allegedly arising from a verbal dispute with her supervisor over medication administration. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) denied her petition for reconsideration of a prior finding that her injury was not compensable. The WCAB majority adopted the judge's report concluding the incident was a lawful, non-discriminatory, good faith personnel action and not a compensable industrial injury. However, one commissioner dissented, arguing the supervisor's directive to administer medication contrary to physician's orders was unlawful, thus not a "lawful, nondiscriminatory, good faith personnel action" under Labor Code section 3208.3(h).

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardPsychiatric injuryVerbal exchange24 hour clockMedication administrationShift supervisorPersonnel actionLawfulNondiscriminatoryBad faith
References
Case No. ADJ7630224
Regular
Nov 29, 2012

TINA SPERBER vs. LAW OFFICES OF LISA M. PACIONE

This case involves Tina Sperber's workers' compensation claim against her employer, Law Offices of Lisa M. Pacione. The applicant, a legal assistant, sustained an injury while investigating a property related to a case, claiming implied authorization. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied reconsideration, upholding the judge's finding that the applicant was not a credible witness regarding her authority. The Board agreed that the applicant lacked permission for the investigation and that the information gathered provided no benefit to the defendant.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardDenying ReconsiderationLegal AssistantLaw OfficesInvestigationImplied AuthorizationCredibilityBenefit to DefendantFamily Law ProceedingsAdministrative Law Judge
References
Case No. ADJ4408900 (VNO 0451597)
Regular
Nov 23, 2009

JAMES SKAGGS vs. SPECIAL DEVICES, INC.; STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

The WCAB affirmed the WCJ's decision denying reconsideration, finding the date of injury correct and that the employer did not meet its burden of proving the injury was substantially caused by lawful, nondiscriminatory, good faith personnel actions.

Psychiatric injuryCumulative traumaGood faith personnel actionLabor Code section 3208.3(h)Administrative leaveIndustrial injuryPre-existing nonindustrial personality dysfunctionPredominant causeActual events of employmentLawful
References
Case No. ADJ374264 (OAK 0326323)
Regular
Oct 21, 2009

DIANE SCOTTO vs. MT. DIABLO MEDICAL GROUP, TRISTAR RISK MANAGEMENT

The WCAB rescinded the WCJ’s decision and found that applicant’s psychiatric injury is not compensable because her injury was substantially caused by her employer’s lawful, nondiscriminatory, good faith personnel actions. The shift change was a personnel action, resulting in 38.5% causation.

Labor Code section 3208.3(h)psychiatric injurygood faith personnel actionssubstantial causecausation thresholdagreed medical evaluator (AME)WCJpetition for reconsiderationshift changeregular and routine employment event
References
Case No. ADJ9190661 ADJ9735754 ADJ9735757
Regular
Nov 20, 2015

WILLIAM CRONIN vs. HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC., XL SPECIALTY INSURANCE COMPANY as administered by MATRIX ABSENCE MANAGEMENT, INC.

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration and found that William Cronin sustained a psychiatric industrial injury arising out of and in the course of employment with Honeywell International. The Board affirmed that actual employment events were predominant causes of the injury. Defendant failed to prove the injury was substantially caused by a lawful, nondiscriminatory, good faith personnel action, as the events cited did not constitute a substantial cause. The previous award was rescinded and substituted with this finding, deferring other issues.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardIndustrial InjuryPsychiatric InjuryActual Events of EmploymentPredominant CauseGood Faith Personnel ActionDue ProcessAdmissible EvidenceAgreed Medical ExaminerTreating Physician Reports
References
Case No. ADJ10221687
Regular
Nov 13, 2020

LEONORE MUNOZ vs. DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

Here's a summary of the case for a lawyer in four sentences: The Appeals Board reversed a Workers' Compensation Judge's decision, finding that the applicant's psychiatric injury was not substantially caused by lawful, nondiscriminatory, good faith personnel actions. While the applicant experienced distress from work-related events, including a counseling memo and an email announcing a meeting, the Board determined that the email was not a "personnel action" under Labor Code section 3208.3(h). Therefore, the employer's defense that the injury stemmed solely from such actions failed, making the psychiatric injury compensable. The Board rescinded the prior order and substituted a finding that the injury is compensable and not barred by the personnel action defense.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardPsychiatric InjuryGood Faith Personnel ActionLabor Code Section 3208.3(h)ReconsiderationCausationPQMEIndustrial StressorsCounseling MemoPersonnel Action
References
Showing 1-10 of 5,593 results

Ready to streamline your practice?

Apply these legal strategies instantly. CompFox helps you find decisions, analyze reports, and draft pleadings in minutes.

CompFox Logo

The AI standard for workers' compensation professionals. Faster research, deeper analysis, better outcomes.

Product

  • Platform
  • Workflow
  • Features
  • Pricing

Solutions

  • Defense Firms
  • Applicants' Attorneys
  • Insurance carriers
  • Medical Providers

Company

  • About
  • Insights
  • Case Law

Legal

  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Trust
  • Cookies
  • Subscription

© 2026 CompFox Inc. All rights reserved.

Systems Operational