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Case Law Database

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

Case No. ADJ9326556 ADJ9768185
Regular
Mar 16, 2018

Walter Donovan vs. United Parcel Service, Liberty Mutual Insurance Company

This case involves applicant Walter Donovan, a UPS truck driver, seeking a higher occupational group number (460, material handlers) than the WCJ's finding (350, truck drivers). The Appeals Board granted reconsideration, applying the "dual occupation" rule. They found Donovan's duties as a delivery driver included significant loading and unloading, thus entitling him to the higher-rated group number 460 for permanent disability calculations. The Board's decision amends the original award to reflect this occupational group assignment.

Dual occupation ruleOccupational group numberTruck driversMaterial handlersMachine loadersPackage deliveryPermanent disabilityPetition for reconsiderationWorkers' Compensation Appeals BoardQualified Medical Evaluator
References
4
Case No. ADJ9840613
Regular
Aug 28, 2025

MINERVA TOMKA vs. PACIFIC GAS ELECTRIC, PACIFIC GAS ELECTRIC - SAN FRANCISCO

Applicant Minerva Tomka sought reconsideration of an order denying her petition to set aside a prior award. She alleged fraud, bad faith, misrepresentation of her occupational group, and clerical errors in the prior Stipulations with Request for Award approved by the WCJ. The Appeals Board reviewed the petition, the defendant's answer, and the WCJ's report. The Board found no evidence of fraud or other grounds to set aside the stipulations but acknowledged clerical errors and the incorrect occupational group number. Consequently, the Board granted reconsideration, rescinded the original order, and issued a new order correcting the applicant's occupational group number to 214 and rectifying various clerical errors.

Petition for ReconsiderationPetition to Set Aside StipulationsStipulations with Request for AwardOccupational Group NumberDEU Consultative RatingPQMEPTPPermanent Disability RatingArising Out of and In the Course of EmploymentAOE/COE
References
12
Case No. ADJ9580355
Regular
Feb 22, 2016

MARIO PENATE vs. OLD DOMINION FREIGHT LINE, INC., NEW HAMPSHIRE INSURANCE COMPANY, GALLAGHER BASSETT SERVICES, INC.

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration to defer the issue of permanent disability, affirming other aspects of the original award. Defendant contended the initial award improperly relied on the applicant's physician over a QME and on the applicant's impeached testimony, and used the incorrect occupational group number. The Board found the original rating instructions were incomplete regarding the lumbar spine and required clarification and re-rating. They also corrected the occupational group number to 350, as stipulated by the parties.

AOE/COEPetition for ReconsiderationPermanent DisabilityAMA GuidesDRE MethodOccupational Group NumberSubstantial EvidenceCredibilityAlmaraz-GuzmanQualified Medical Evaluator
References
1
Case No. ADJ10597372
Regular
Apr 13, 2020

KATORIA JONES vs. THRIFT RECYCLING, ZURICH AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration to amend the original Findings, Award and Order. The Board found that the applicant's occupational group number should be 360 (porters and packers) rather than 230 (machine operators and tenders). This amendment was based on the applicant's job duties as a warehouse line loader involving lifting, sorting, and moving boxes. The Board deferred issues of permanent disability and attorney's fees, returning the case to the trial level for further proceedings with the corrected occupational group number.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardPetition for ReconsiderationOccupational Group NumberSorterWarehouse workerLine loaderPDRSPermanent Disability Rating ScheduleFindings Award and OrderIndustrial Injury
References
0
Case No. 2024-50-2711
Regular Panel Decision
Feb 20, 2026

Lusk v. Portopiccolo Group LLC, dba The Portopiccolo Group

This interlocutory appeal concerns an employer's denial of medical treatment for an employee's work-related injuries. Employee Cheryl Lusk, injured by a resident at Portopiccolo Group, LLC, was recommended for cervical spine surgery by her authorized treating physician, Dr. John Burleson. The employer denied the surgery based on a utilization review report, which was upheld by the Bureau's Medical Director. The trial court, however, ordered the employer to provide the surgery, relying on the presumption of medical necessity for treatment recommended by an authorized physician. The Appeals Board affirmed the trial court's decision, concluding that the employer failed to rebut this presumption, and remanded the case for further proceedings.

Workers' CompensationMedical Treatment DenialUtilization ReviewSurgical AuthorizationPresumption of Medical NecessityEmployer AppealCervical Spine InjuryACDF SurgeryAuthorized Treating PhysicianBurden of Proof
References
8
Case No. ADJ15563281
Regular
Mar 17, 2025

LENIN QUIROZ vs. CITY OF LOS ANGELES

This case concerns a Petition for Reconsideration filed by the City of Los Angeles, challenging an arbitrator's findings that applicant Lenin Quiroz sustained an industrially caused testicular cancer. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board reviewed the defendant's contentions regarding the statute of limitations, the substantiality of medical evidence from Agreed Medical Evaluator Dr. Fred Kuyt, and the proper occupational group number. The Board denied the petition, affirming the arbitrator's findings that the statute of limitations did not bar the claim, Dr. Kuyt's medical opinion constituted substantial evidence, and Occupational Group Number 490 was appropriate based on the applicant's job duties.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardPetition for ReconsiderationLabor Code Section 5909Sixty-Day RuleTransmission of CaseEAMSNotice of TransmissionSubstantial Medical EvidenceAOE/COEAgreed Medical Evaluator
References
14
Case No. ADJ12582828
Regular
Jan 03, 2023

TERRY KELLY vs. SAFEWAY

This case involves a workers' compensation claim where the defendant sought reconsideration of an award finding injury AOE/COE to multiple body parts. The primary dispute centers on the applicant's occupational group number, with the applicant claiming "butcher" (420) and the defendant arguing "meat cutter" (322), impacting permanent disability ratings. The Board granted reconsideration, finding insufficient evidence to determine the occupational group number and therefore deferring permanent disability for all affected body parts pending further development of the record. The finding of injury AOE/COE to the applicant's cervical spine, thoracic spine, lumbar spine, bilateral knees, bilateral elbows, and bilateral wrists was upheld.

Occupational Group NumberMeat CutterButcherCumulative TraumaPermanent DisabilityQualified Medical EvaluatorSubstantial EvidenceFurther DevelopmentBody PartsWPI Ratings
References
11
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Dewan v. Blue Man Group Limited Partnership

Plaintiff Brian Dewan, a musician, sued the Blue Man Group entities and individuals, seeking a declaration of co-authorship for musical compositions used in their "Blue Man Group: Tubes" performance and damages for state law claims. Dewan claimed he collaborated with the defendants in composing music for the show and was repeatedly assured of his co-authorship rights and that an agreement would be formalized, but it never materialized. Defendants moved to dismiss, arguing the co-authorship claim under the Copyright Act was time-barred. The court found that Dewan's equitable estoppel argument was unreasonable after late 1993 or 1994, as he had sufficient notice that a lawsuit was necessary. Consequently, the court dismissed the federal co-authorship claim due to the expiration of the statute of limitations and declined to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over the remaining state law claims.

Copyright ActCo-authorshipStatute of LimitationsEquitable EstoppelMotion to DismissFederal JurisdictionState Law ClaimsMusical CompositionsCollaborationDeclaratory Judgment
References
11
Case No. 06 Civ. 0822(RJH)
Regular Panel Decision

Vanamringe v. Royal Group Technologies Ltd.

This Memorandum Opinion and Order addresses two consolidated securities fraud actions against Royal Group Technologies Limited and its officers and directors. The plaintiffs, known as the 'Snow Group', allege a fraudulent scheme involving false and misleading statements to inflate Royal Group's stock price, violating Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act. The Court consolidated the two actions, Vanamringe v. Royal Group Technologies Limited and Messinger v. Royal Group Technologies Limited, under the caption In re Royal Group Technologies Securities Litigation. The Snow Group's motion for appointment as lead plaintiff was granted, as they demonstrated the largest financial interest and satisfied Rule 23 requirements for typicality and adequacy. The Court also approved the Snow Group's selection of Lerach Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins LLP and Labaton Sucharow & Rudoff LLP as co-lead counsel for the class.

Securities FraudClass ActionLead PlaintiffConsolidationPSLRAFederal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 23Corporate FraudStock ManipulationInvestor ProtectionExchange Act
References
8
Case No. 01-07-00808-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Nov 20, 2008

the City of Houston v. Southern Electrical Services, Inc., as Assignee of the Morganti Group, Inc. and the Morganti Group, Inc.

The City of Houston appealed the trial court's denial of its plea to the jurisdiction in a breach of contract suit filed by Southern Electrical Services, Inc. (SES) and The Morganti Group, Inc. The appellees claimed the City breached the contract by providing incorrect prevailing wage rates for a construction project. The City argued that SES and Morganti failed to allege facts sufficient to waive governmental immunity under the Texas Local Government Code. The Court of Appeals, First District of Texas, affirmed the trial court's order, concluding that SES alleged sufficient facts to qualify for the statutory waiver of sovereign immunity for breach of contract.

Governmental ImmunityBreach of ContractPlea to the JurisdictionPrevailing Wage RatesTexas Local Government CodeSovereign Immunity WaiverContract LawPublic Works ProjectAppellate ReviewStatutory Interpretation
References
9
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