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Access over workers' compensation decisions, including En Banc, Significant Panel Decisions, and writ-denied cases.

Case No. ADJ8527201 (MF) ADJ8527245

Regular

Dec 27, 2016

GUSTAVO VALDOVINOS vs. COLORMAX INDUSTRIES INC, AIG SAN DIEGO on behalf of GRANITE STATE INSURANCE CO.

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied applicant Gustavo Valdovinos' petition for reconsideration of a decision that found he failed to prove a cumulative trauma injury. Applicant argued for an adverse inference due to the destruction of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) by the employer. The Board found no violation of duty to retain MSDS under California or federal law, especially since the request was made years after employment ended. Furthermore, the applicant did not provide medical evidence linking his claimed injuries to the chemicals he recalled using.

WCABColormax IndustriesAIG San DiegoGranite State InsuranceGustavo Valdovinoscumulative traumaMaterial Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)adverse inferenceindustrial chemicalssolvents

References

Case No. ADJ4167440 (SBR 0304112)

Regular

Dec 29, 2008

ALEJANDRO SANCHEZ vs. AUTOMOTIVE SUPPLY COMPANY, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board dismissed the defendant's petition for reconsideration of an order compelling discovery, deeming it interlocutory. However, they granted the defendant's petition for removal, rescinded the discovery order, and returned the case to the trial level. The Board found the original discovery requests for chemicals, MSDS, employee names, and machinery to be vague, overbroad, and improperly sought the compilation of information rather than existing records.

WCABPetition for ReconsiderationPetition for RemovalOrder Compelling Requested InformationSubpoena Duces TecumMSDSIndustrial InjuryCumulative ExposureChemicalsSolvents

References

Case No. ADJ10194913 ADJ10194766 ADJ10194759

Regular

Oct 18, 2019

ABRAHAM ANAYA vs. BO ENTERPRISES, INC., dba SIERRA WEATHERIZATION CO., REDWOOD FIRE & CASUALTY INS. CO., c/o BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESTATE COMPANIES

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) granted reconsideration to address a lien claimant's petition regarding reimbursement for copying services. The WCAB reversed the original finding that copying the insurer's claims file was not a medical-legal expense, finding it was valid. However, the Board affirmed the denial of reimbursement for the employer's MSDS and additional reprint charges, remanding the case for further proceedings on the reasonable value of copying the insurer's claims file.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardMed-Legal LLCJoint Findings and Ordersmaterial safety data sheetinsurance claims filemedical-legal expensesreprint chargessubpoena duces tecumemployment filesKaiser Hospital records

References

Case No. ADJ4052884 (AHM 0136124) ADJ6520242

Regular

Feb 20, 2014

EMILIO EDDIE ROMERO (Deceased) SARA ROMERO (Widow) vs. CLOROX PRODUCTS MANUFACTURING

The Appeals Board granted the defendant's petition for removal, rescinding an order to replace a Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME). The WCJ had terminated the QME believing his partial review and stated refusal to review more records showed prejudgment on causation. However, the Appeals Board found it premature to disqualify the QME, noting his opinion of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis as an unknown cause of disease could render additional MSDS irrelevant if correct. The Board ordered a deposition of the QME to explore his opinions and any alleged bias before deciding on a replacement, allowing further record development.

Petition for RemovalPQMEPanel Qualified Medical EvaluatorCausationIdiopathic Pulmonary FibrosisMaterial Safety Data SheetsMSDSSubstantial Medical EvidenceDepositionMcDuffie v. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit District

References

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GUSTAVO VALDOVINOS vs. COLORMAX INDUSTRIES INC, AIG SAN DIEGO on behalf of GRANITE STATE INSURANCE CO.

WCABColormax IndustriesAIG San DiegoGranite State InsuranceGustavo Valdovinoscumulative traumaMaterial Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)adverse inferenceindustrial chemicalssolvents

ALEJANDRO SANCHEZ vs. AUTOMOTIVE SUPPLY COMPANY, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

WCABPetition for ReconsiderationPetition for RemovalOrder Compelling Requested InformationSubpoena Duces TecumMSDSIndustrial InjuryCumulative ExposureChemicalsSolvents

ABRAHAM ANAYA vs. BO ENTERPRISES, INC., dba SIERRA WEATHERIZATION CO., REDWOOD FIRE & CASUALTY INS. CO., c/o BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESTATE COMPANIES

EMILIO EDDIE ROMERO (Deceased) SARA ROMERO (Widow) vs. CLOROX PRODUCTS MANUFACTURING