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Case Law Database

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

Case No. 2019-01-0630
Regular Panel Decision
Oct 28, 2020

Ferguson, Anne Michelle v. Amazon.com, Inc.

Anne Michelle Ferguson, an Amazon employee, sought permanent total disability and medical benefits for complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) after injuring her left foot at work in October 2017. Amazon contended that benefits should be limited to a foot contusion and sought a credit for overpayment of temporary partial disability benefits. The Court weighed competing medical expert opinions, ultimately giving greater weight to Dr. Dreskin's diagnosis of compensable CRPS. Consequently, the Court awarded Ms. Ferguson permanent partial disability benefits of $8,858.13 and ongoing medical benefits, including access to a panel of CRPS specialists. However, her claim for permanent total disability was denied as she was deemed capable of sedentary work, and Amazon received a credit for previously overpaid temporary benefits.

Workers' CompensationPermanent Partial DisabilityComplex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)Medical BenefitsVocational DisabilityMaximum Medical Improvement (MMI)Temporary Partial DisabilityPain ManagementMedical Expert TestimonyFoot Injury
References
5
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Keselman v. New York City Transit Authority

Claimant, injured in 1986, initially established a right shoulder injury. The Workers’ Compensation Board affirmed this but denied a causally related neck injury in 1996. After another application in 1998 alleging a worsened neck condition, the Workers’ Compensation Law Judge found a causally related neck injury and permanent partial disability, awarding benefits from February 5, 1998, which the Board affirmed. Separately, the Board also ruled the employer was entitled to credit schedule payments against disability payments made after February 5, 1998. The court affirmed both decisions, finding substantial evidence supported the deterioration of the neck injury post-1996 and that schedule awards are independent of actual disability periods, thus allowing the employer's credit.

Workers' CompensationPermanent Partial DisabilitySchedule AwardDisability PaymentsNeck InjuryRight Shoulder InjuryCausally Related InjuryReopening CaseMedical EvidenceMRI
References
7
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Davis v. Reagan

This consolidated appeal addresses whether permanent total disability can be awarded in Tennessee when an anatomical disability rating is below 16.7 percent. The Supreme Court reconciles conflicting panel decisions, specifically overruling Seiber v. Greenbrier Industries, Inc. The court holds that the limitations outlined in Tenn.Code Ann. § 50-6-241, which apply to permanent partial disability awards, do not extend to permanent total disability claims. The decision affirms the trial courts' judgments, allowing individuals like Vernon Ray Davis and Bessie Lou Rayfield to receive permanent total disability benefits despite having anatomical impairment ratings under 16.7 percent.

Permanent Total DisabilityPermanent Partial DisabilityWorkers' Compensation ActAnatomical Impairment RatingStatutory InterpretationTennessee LawConsolidated AppealVocational DisabilityEmployee RetentionLegislative Intent
References
8
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Standard Fire Insurance Co. v. Rice

This is a worker's compensation case where the insurance carrier appealed a jury verdict granting total and permanent disability benefits to an injured worker. The worker sustained a low back injury, necessitating a chymopapain injection, and continued employment post-injury, even with increased pay and a more strenuous schedule. However, medical testimony and evidence from safety directors suggested that due to his injury and surgery, the worker was permanently disabled from obtaining similar employment elsewhere, being deemed to have a "Class 4 back." The appellate court affirmed the judgment, emphasizing the liberal construction of worker's compensation laws and that continued work does not automatically preclude findings of total and permanent disability. The court found the evidence factually sufficient to support the jury's finding of permanent total incapacity.

Worker's CompensationBack InjuryLumbar StrainHerniated DiscChymopapain InjectionPermanent DisabilityTotal IncapacityMedical EvidenceEmployment PhysicalsTexas Law
References
5
Case No. 2017-08-0024
Regular Panel Decision
Feb 19, 2020

Thomas, Alisha v. Federal Express Corp.

Alisha Thomas filed a Petition for Benefit Determination (PBD) seeking permanent total disability benefits or additional permanent partial benefits, which Federal Express Corp. disputed. The Court ruled that Ms. Thomas is entitled to increased permanent partial disability benefits under Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-207(3)(B) because she had not returned to work by the expiration of her initial compensation period, and her treating physician, Dr. Melvin Goldin, attributed her condition to the work injury at that time. However, the Court denied claims for additional benefits under section 50-6-242 and permanent total disability, as Dr. Goldin's later testimony revealed Ms. Thomas's condition had evolved beyond the initial somatic symptom disorder, and he could not definitively connect her advanced symptoms to the work injury at the time of the award. The awarded increased benefits totaled $3,379.01.

Permanent Partial DisabilitySomatic Symptom DisorderImpairment RatingRes JudicataMental Injury CompensabilityIncreased BenefitsSocial Security DisabilityTreating Physician TestimonyCausation StandardSettlement Agreement
References
5
Case No. ADJ8990594
Regular
Feb 22, 2000

SHAWN GUTE vs. THE RYAN COMPANY, OLD REPUBLIC WORK COMP

Here's a summary of the case for a lawyer: The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied the defendant's petition for reconsideration, upholding the denial of a credit for temporary disability overpayments against the applicant's permanent disability award. The Board found that allowing the credit would effectively eliminate the permanent disability benefits and that such credit allowances are discretionary. The WCAB adopted the WCJ's reasoning, emphasizing that the statutory purpose of permanent disability benefits would be undermined. The defendant's argument that they overpaid temporary disability after the agreed medical evaluator found the applicant permanent and stationary was rejected as a basis to disturb the WCJ's discretionary denial of credit.

Petition for ReconsiderationTemporary DisabilityPermanent DisabilityCreditOverpaymentAgreed Medical EvaluatorMaximum Medical ImprovementDiscretionaryWorkers' Compensation Appeals BoardWorkers' Compensation Judge
References
2
Case No. 2017-06-1778
Regular Panel Decision
Apr 11, 2018

Demotte, Julie v. UPS

Julie Demotte sustained a workplace injury involving a broken hip and leg in November 2016 while working for UPS. UPS initially accepted the claim and provided temporary disability benefits. Dr. Jason Evans, the authorized treating physician, placed Ms. Demotte at maximum medical improvement and assigned a three-percent whole-person impairment rating. A compensation hearing was held to determine Ms. Demotte's entitlement to permanent disability, temporary disability, and future medical benefits. The Court ordered UPS to provide lifetime medical benefits for Ms. Demotte's workplace injury, but denied her claims for both temporary and permanent disability benefits. The denial of permanent disability was based on the inadmissibility of Form C-30A as proof of impairment, as Ms. Demotte failed to present admissible evidence. Additionally, the claim for further temporary disability benefits was denied due to an earlier overpayment by UPS that exceeded any subsequent amounts due.

Workplace InjuryFuture Medical BenefitsTemporary Disability BenefitsPermanent Disability BenefitsAdmissibility of Medical ReportsForm C-30AForm C-32Impairment RatingHearsayMaximum Medical Improvement
References
2
Case No. ADJ11229680
Regular
Oct 13, 2025

BEATRIZ MACIAS vs. COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, SEDGWICK CLAIMS MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.

Applicant Beatriz Macias (deceased) sought reconsideration of a Findings of Fact and Award (F&A) that found her 100% permanently disabled but applied credits for earnings, temporary disability, and Labor Code section 4850 benefits. The defendant argued the credit was appropriate to prevent double recovery. The Appeals Board granted reconsideration, determining that the WCJ improperly allowed credits for temporary disability indemnity, salary, or section 4850 benefits, as permanent disability compensates for physical loss and lost earning capacity, distinct from temporary disability. Consequently, the F&A was amended to permit credit solely for permanent disability paid and reasonable attorney fees, with the remainder of the F&A affirmed.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardDeputy SheriffMetastatic Breast CancerUlnar Nerve InjuryPermanent Total DisabilityPetition for ReconsiderationLabor Code Section 4850Temporary Total DisabilityPermanent Disability IndemnityCredit for Benefits Paid
References
7
Case No. ADJ4303745 (MON 0347631) ADJ2509411 (MON 0347633)
Regular
Apr 30, 2012

THEMAS RICHARDSON vs. COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES

The County of Los Angeles sought credit for overpaid temporary disability benefits against permanent disability awards for applicant Thomas Richardson. The Appeals Board granted reconsideration to allow credit for overpayments, but only against the permanent disability award in the specific injury case (ADJ2509411), not the cumulative trauma case (ADJ4303745). The Board found the overpayments stemmed from administrative error by the defendant and were not due to applicant's fault, limiting the credit to avoid hardship. Therefore, the award in ADJ2509411 was amended to allow credit, but no attorney fees could be paid as the credit eliminated any remaining permanent disability indemnity.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardReconsiderationTemporary DisabilityPermanent DisabilityLabor Code Section 4656(c)(1)CreditOverpaymentCumulative TraumaSpecific InjuryFire Captain
References
1
Case No. ADJ3248672
Regular
Jun 20, 2014

EUDOCIA GONZALEZ vs. DIANNE SIBILLE, ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY

This case involves a dispute over credit for overpaid temporary disability benefits. The original award found the applicant sustained an industrial injury and granted a permanent disability award. The defendant sought reconsideration, arguing the judge erred by limiting the credit for temporary disability overpayments. The Appeals Board granted reconsideration, affirming the original award but correcting clerical errors in the findings regarding the total permanent disability award amount and the specific period for which credit was allowed. The Board ultimately denied the defendant's request for a larger credit, finding it would significantly diminish the applicant's permanent disability award.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardPetition for ReconsiderationFindings Award OrderIndustrial InjuryLow Back InjuryGastrointestinal InjuryPsyche InjuryHousekeeperPermanent Disability AwardTemporary Disability Overpayment
References
2
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