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. ADJ7673518, ADJ7647749
Regular
Jan 23, 2015

ANA DE AYALA vs. AO-THE UNIVERSITY CORPORATION / CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY NORTHRIDGE

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration and reversed a prior ruling, finding the applicant sustained industrial injury to her neck. While the applicant testified to injuring her neck in a workplace incident and this was partially corroborated, the Board found insufficient evidence for other claimed injuries. The Board specifically disagreed with the administrative law judge's credibility assessment concerning the neck injury itself, relying on medical reports and testimony supporting the neck injury claim. The Board affirmed the denial of claims for all other alleged injuries, finding insufficient medical evidence to link them to the incident.

Petition for ReconsiderationFindings and OrderIndustrial InjuryNeck InjuryBack InjurySpine InjuryUpper ExtremitiesPsycheGastroesophageal SystemInternal System
References
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 The WCAB rescinded the decision and returned the case to the trial level, finding the medical opinions of Dr.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. ADJ896199
Regular
Apr 30, 2010

CHRISTOPHER SAN JOSE vs. STAGE TECH, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

This case concerns a dispute over the applicant's temporary disability indemnity rate, which was initially based solely on Social Security earnings. The Appeals Board granted reconsideration, finding the WCJ erred by not considering the applicant's actual post-injury earnings in a modified position. The Board cited case law establishing that post-injury earnings can be considered to fairly determine an injured worker's earning capacity. Consequently, the applicant's weekly earnings were determined to be $450, resulting in a higher temporary disability indemnity rate.

ReconsiderationTemporary Disability Indemnity RateEarning CapacitySocial Security RecordsModified DutyOffer of ProofAbandoned His JobPre-injury EarningsPost-injury EarningsEarning Capacity Determination
References
Case No. FRE 0147567
Significant
Jan 24, 2002

MARIA YOLANDA JIMENEZ vs. SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY LABOR, SUPERIOR NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY

The Board holds that an industrially injured seasonal employee's vocational rehabilitation maintenance allowance (VRMA) should be calculated at two-tiered rates, reflecting in-season and off-season earning capacity, similar to temporary disability indemnity. The case is remanded to determine the applicant's off-season earning capacity.

Seasonal farm laborerVocational Rehabilitation Maintenance Allowance (VRMA)Temporary Disability Indemnity (TDI)In-season earnings capacityOff-season earnings capacityAverage weekly earningsLabor Code section 139.5En banc decisionEarning capacity benchmarkTwo-tiered award
References
Case No. ADJ2360182 (MON 0334561) ADJ493129 (MON 0334562) ADJ3850358 (MON 0334563)
Regular
Oct 18, 2010

YOLANDA M. PIDECH vs. METROPOLITAN STATE HOSPITAL, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

The Appeals Board rescinded the prior award and returned the case for further proceedings because the WCJ did not adequately consider the applicant's post-injury earning capacity as required by *Ogilvie I* and *Ogilvie II*. The WCJ failed to adequately explain the calculation of the applicant's earnings loss and did not provide substantial medical evidence supporting her inability to work. The Board requires further development of the record, particularly medical opinions on work capacity, before a complete *Ogilvie* analysis can be performed. This includes assessing whether the earning loss is industrially caused and weighing the adjusted DFEC factor against the scheduled factor.

Ogilvie analysisDFEC rebuttalpost-injury earning capacitypermanent disability ratingAgreed Medical Evaluatorsubstantial medical evidencevocational rehabilitationloss of earning capacityindustrial injurytemporary disability
References
Case No. ADJ6692520
Regular
Jul 20, 2010

CRYSTAL VOS vs. STEVEN CHANG, DDS, ZENITH INSURANCE COMPANY

This case affirms a WCJ's decision finding the applicant sustained a 12% permanent disability. The applicant sought reconsideration, arguing the WCJ erred by limiting rebuttal evidence to "wage loss" rather than "loss of long-term earning capacity" and denying costs for a vocational expert. The Appeals Board, relying on precedent from *Ogilvie v. City and County of San Francisco*, held that the vocational expert's opinion was not substantial evidence to rebut the permanent disability rating. Therefore, the WCJ's denial of the vocational expert's costs was also affirmed.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardSupplemental Findings and Awardindustrial injurypermanent disabilityvocational expertwage lossloss of long-term earning capacitydiminished future earning capacity (DFEC)2005 Permanent Disability Rating ScheduleOgilvie v. City and County of San Francisco
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. ADJ8517780
Regular
Jun 03, 2013

DEANNA ROBBINS vs. SUSANVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied the defendant school district's petition for reconsideration. The district challenged the calculation of the applicant's average weekly earnings, arguing her probationary status should reduce the figure. However, the Board affirmed the administrative law judge's finding, determining that the applicant's earnings capacity was properly calculated based on her actual earnings from multiple employers prior to the injury. The Board emphasized that earning capacity is a dynamic assessment, not limited to the applicant's immediate employment status.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardSusanville Elementary School DistrictDeanna RobbinsPetition for ReconsiderationFindings and Awardcumulative injuryupper extremitiesaverage weekly earningsearning capacityLabor Code section 4453(c)(4)
References
Case No. FRE 0238073
Regular
Jan 25, 2008

DANIEL MALTOS vs. ULTIMATE STAFFING SERVICES, ZURICH AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY, NOVAPRO RISK SOLUTIONS INC.

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration of an award finding the applicant's average weekly earnings at $390.00. The Board amended the award to find average weekly earnings of $320.00, resulting in a temporary disability indemnity rate of $213.33 per week. This adjustment was made because the original calculation of $390.00 was not adequately supported by the evidence, though the Board affirmed the applicability of Labor Code section 4453(c)(1) for determining earnings.

Petition for ReconsiderationFindings and Awardtemporary disability indemnityaverage weekly earningsLabor Code section 4453(c)(1)Labor Code section 4453(c)(4)wage lossearning capacityprobationary periodintermittent employment
References
Case No. ADJ4318563 (SAL 0103841)
Regular
Nov 03, 2010

SANDRA PETERSON vs. SANTA CRUZ CITY SCHOOLS; Permissibly Self-Insured, Administered By EMPLOYERS SLEF INSURANCE SERVICES

This case involves an applicant who sustained industrial injuries as a teacher and later earned a significantly higher salary at a different school district. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied the defendant's petition for reconsideration. The Board affirmed the administrative law judge's decision to base temporary disability indemnity on the applicant's higher post-injury earnings. This was justified because her subsequent earnings provided concrete evidence of her earning capacity.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardIndustrial InjuryTemporary Total Disability IndemnityTDI Rate CalculationPost-Injury EarningsEarning CapacityWCJ FindingsPetition for ReconsiderationSanta Cruz City SchoolsCampbell School District
References
Showing 1-10 of 872 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