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Case Law Database

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

Case No. ADJ7911474
Regular
Jan 22, 2019

KIA SPREWELL vs. STATE OF CALIFORNIA, RICHARD J. DONOVAN CORRECTIONAL FACILITY

This case involved Kia Sprewell's workers' compensation claim against the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility for injuries sustained as an office assistant. The defendant sought reconsideration of the initial award, primarily contesting the commutation method for attorney fees and the substantiality of the neurologist's medical opinions. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration in part, affirming the award of permanent disability but amending the attorney fees to be commuted from the side of the life pension award. The Board found the neurologist's opinions on apportionment and rating of various injuries, including headaches and spinal issues, to be substantial medical evidence.

Workers Compensation Appeals BoardKia SprewellRichard J. Donovan Correctional FacilityState Compensation Insurance FundPetition for ReconsiderationFindings and AwardPermanent DisabilityApportionmentLife PensionAttorney Fees
References
Case No. ADJ10138122
Regular
Aug 28, 2025

Tinomeneta Taupau vs. State of California, Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility; Legally Uninsured, with Claims Adjusted by State Compensation Insurance Fund

The petitioner has withdrawn the Petition for Removal of the decision issued on June 18, 2025. Consequently, the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board has ordered that the Petition for Removal is dismissed.

Petition for RemovalWithdrawnDismissedWorkers' Compensation Appeals BoardRICHARD J. DONOVAN CORRECTIONAL FACILITYLEGALLY UNINSUREDSTATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUNDAdjudication NumberSan Diego District OfficeCCPOA BENEFIT TRUST FUND
References
Case No. ADJ9184413
Regular
Oct 27, 2020

JEFFREY SPRINGER vs. RJ DONOVAN CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

This case involves a workers' compensation claim by Jeffrey Springer against RJ Donovan Correctional Facility. The Applicant sustained injuries resulting in industrially caused hypertension, hypertensive kidney disease, and hypertensive heart disease. The primary dispute centered on how to combine a prior 28% permanent disability rating for kidney disease with a new 49% rating for heart disease. The defendant argued these were part of a single cardiovascular system and sought to subtract the prior award's monetary value from the new rating. The WCJ found the injuries to the kidney and heart were distinct, justifying combining them, and awarded 63% permanent disability after deducting the prior award's value. The Appeals Board denied the defendant's petition for reconsideration, adopting the WCJ's reasoning.

Workers Compensation Appeals BoardRJ Donovan Correctional FacilityLegally UninsuredState Compensation Insurance FundPetition for ReconsiderationPermanent DisabilityHypertensionHypertensive Kidney DiseaseHypertensive Heart DiseaseHypertensive Cardiovascular Disease
References
Case No. ADJ6921831, ADJ9093989
Regular
May 02, 2016

KISCHA LOVING vs. CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION VENTURA YOUTH CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

This order denies Kischa Loving's petition for reconsideration in two workers' compensation cases against the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board adopted the reasoning of the administrative law judge's report. No new evidence or arguments were presented to warrant overturning the original decision. Therefore, the petition for reconsideration was denied.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardPetition for ReconsiderationWCJ reportCalifornia Department of Corrections and RehabilitationVentura Youth Correctional FacilityState Compensation Insurance Fundadministrative law judgedenial of reconsiderationADJ6921831ADJ9093989
References
Case No. ADJ3737130 (SDO 0361862)
Regular
May 06, 2011

JOHN BAIR (Deceased), SHARON BAIR, et al vs. STATE OF CALIFORNIA, DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS (Richard Donovan Correctional Facility), STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied the State Compensation Insurance Fund's (SCIF) petition for reconsideration. SCIF sought to overturn a prior decision awarding death benefits to the decedent's children, arguing they were statutorily barred. The Board found good cause to award benefits despite LC 4707, confirming the decedent sustained an industrial heart injury resulting in death. The Board also upheld the reimbursement of medical reports and expert services, as well as the applicant's attorney's fee entitlement.

Workers' Compensation Appeals Boardindustrial injuryheart injurydeath benefitsLabor Code section 4707Labor Code section 4704partial dependencymedical report reimbursementcorrectional facility environmentpetition for reconsideration
References
Case No. SAC 247444
Regular
Mar 24, 2008

KATHRYN OIEN-LENTZ vs. CITY OF FOLSOM CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, HIH AMERICA, CALIFORNIA INSURANCE GUARANTEE ASSOCIATION, INTERCARE INSURANCE SERVICES

The applicant sustained multiple industrial injuries as a correctional officer. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration to address the defendant's contention that the administrative law judge erred in amending the award based on outdated legal precedent (*Wilkinson*). The Board, in light of their en banc decision in *Benson v. Permanente Medical Group*, amended the award to defer the determination of permanent disability and returned the case for further proceedings consistent with the new causation-based apportionment requirements.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardCity of Folsom Correctional FacilityHIH AmericaCalifornia Insurance Guarantee AssociationIntercare Insurance ServicesKathryn Oien-Lentzcorrectional officerindustrial injuriesneckwrists
References
Case No. ADJ8919366, ADJ4508242, ADJ1415534
Regular
Mar 29, 2023

MICHAEL RAMRAKHA vs. STATE OF CALIFORNIA, RICHARD J. DONOVAN CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND, STATE CONTRACT SERVICES SAN DIEGO

The Appeals Board granted reconsideration to address the defendant's contention that the WCJ erred in denying credit for overpaid permanent disability benefits. In one case (ADJ1415534), the Board found the defendant entitled to credit for benefits paid in another case (ADJ4508242) due to an overpayment, amending the original award. However, the Board affirmed the WCJ's denial of credit in a third case (ADJ8919366), finding that allowing such credit would materially impair the applicant's permanent disability award. The Board emphasized that the discretion to allow credit involves balancing equities and considering the impact on the applicant's benefits.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardReconsiderationCorrectional OfficerIndustrial InjuryCoronary Heart DiseaseHypertensive Cardiovascular DiseaseHematopoietic ImpairmentPermanent DisabilityIndemnity BenefitsPetition for Credit
References
Case No. SAC 316687
Regular
Feb 28, 2008

STEVE OLSON vs. DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

This case involves a correctional lieutenant claiming cumulative industrial injury to his heart, hypertension, diabetes, and GERD. The original decision apportioned 80% of his permanent disability to non-industrial causes, but the Appeals Board rescinded this. The Board determined that Labor Code section 4663(e) exempts safety officers like the applicant from apportionment for presumed injuries, and the calculation of permanent disability indemnity must now follow the *Brodie/Welcher* standard.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardSAC 316687Steve OlsonDepartment of CorrectionsState Compensation Insurance FundOpinion and Decision After Reconsiderationcorrectional lieutenantcumulative industrial injuryhearthypertension
References
Case No. ADJ9737947
Regular
Apr 15, 2016

DOUGLAS CRINGEAN vs. WARNER BROS. STUDIO FACILITIES, WARNER BROS. WORKERS' COMPENSATION

This Workers' Compensation Appeals Board case, involving Douglas Cringean and Warner Bros. Studio Facilities, concerns a clerical error in a prior decision's caption. The Board's decision served on April 11, 2016, incorrectly stated the caption as "Opinion and Order Granting Petition for Reconsideration." The Board is correcting this to the accurate caption, "Opinion and Order Granting Petition for Reconsideration and Decision After Reconsideration." This correction is permissible as clerical errors can be rectified at any time without further proceedings.

Clerical ErrorCaption CorrectionPetition for ReconsiderationDecision After ReconsiderationWorkers' Compensation Appeals BoardAMENDED captionSupplemental ProceedingsADJ9737947Warner Bros. Studio FacilitiesDouglas Cringean
References
Case No. ADJ8789952
Regular
Nov 16, 2017

LISA STROTHER vs. STATE OF CALIFORNIA, DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

This case involves Lisa Strother's claim for psychiatric injury due to cumulative trauma as a correctional officer. The Appeals Board granted reconsideration because the Agreed Medical Evaluator's (AME) report lacked specificity regarding the actual employment events causing the psyche injury and failed to properly apportion permanent disability. The Board found the AME's opinion on causation was not adequately detailed to determine if work events were the predominant cause. Therefore, the matter was returned to the trial level for further development of the record on these critical issues.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardLisa StrotherState of California Department of Corrections and RehabilitationLegally UninsuredState Compensation Insurance FundADJ8789952Fresno District OfficePetition for ReconsiderationFindings of Fact and AwardCorrectional Officer
References
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