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

Case No. ADJ1146871 (SAC 0349672)
Regular
Jun 14, 2010

ZORICA ILIC vs. STANFORD HOSPITAL & CLINICS, SEDGWICK 2065 OAKLAND

This case involves an applicant with a $78\%$ permanent disability rating for admitted industrial injuries to her low back and psyche. The defendant sought reconsideration, arguing the administrative law judge erred in applying a diminished future earning capacity adjustment, Labor Code $\S 4664$ apportionment, and relying on applicant's medical evaluators. The primary issue deferred was the calculation of the State Average Weekly Wage (SAWW) adjustment under Labor Code $\S 4659(\text{c})$ pending a Supreme Court decision. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration to defer the SAWW adjustment calculation but otherwise affirmed the original findings, including the $78\%$ permanent disability rating.

Labor Code § 4663Labor Code § 4664Labor Code § 4659(c)SAWWDFECDuncan v. WCABReconsiderationPermanent DisabilityApportionmentQualified Medical Evaluators
References
2
Case No. MON 322663, LAO 0850418
Regular
Dec 10, 2007

DANIEL PAN vs. STATE OF CALIFORNIA, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied the defendant's petition for reconsideration, upholding the administrative law judge's decision. The Board found that the defendant must include projected future cost-of-living adjustments based on the State Average Weekly Wage (SAWW) when calculating the present value of the permanent disability award to determine attorney's fees. The Board affirmed that a 4.7% SAWW adjustment, representing a 50-year average, is a rational basis for these calculations, and the defendant's contention of speculation was unfounded.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardPetition for ReconsiderationJoint Findings and AwardPermanent Total DisabilityLabor Code Section 4659(c)State Average Weekly WagePresent Value of AwardCommutation of Attorney's FeesDisability Evaluation UnitAnnual Adjustments
References
1
Case No. ADJ7971001
Regular
Apr 16, 2013

DARRYL OYAS vs. CALIFORNIA STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

This case involves a dispute over the attorney's fees awarded in a workers' compensation claim for a 100% permanent disability award. The applicant's attorney argues the administrative law judge erred by excluding the State Average Weekly Wage (SAWW) adjustment factor and by using the Uniform Reduction method for commutation instead of the Uniform Increasing Reduction (UIR) method. The Appeals Board granted reconsideration to allow the judge to recalculate the attorney's fees, incorporating a reasonable SAWW adjustment and applying the UIR commutation method, while still considering factors for determining the fee's reasonableness. The Board emphasized separating the calculation of the award's commuted value from the determination of the attorney's fee percentage.

State Compensation Insurance FundWorkers' Compensation Appeals BoardFindings and AwardAttorney's FeePermanent DisabilityState Average Weekly Wage (SAWW)Uniform Increasing Reduction (UIR) methodCommutationStipulations with Request for AwardCorrectional Officer
References
5
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Greece Support Service Employees Ass'n v. Public Employment Relations Board

This case concerns an appeal regarding the proper application of Civil Service Law § 209-a (1) (e) to salary provisions in an expired collective bargaining agreement between an unnamed petitioner and the Greece Central School District. The agreement, from July 1992 to June 1995, included cost-of-living adjustments for salary schedules during its term. After the agreement expired, the District continued existing salary schedules but ceased further cost-of-living adjustments for 1995-1996, prompting the petitioner to file an improper practice charge. The Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) reversed an Administrative Law Judge's decision, concluding that the agreement did not mandate continued cost-of-living adjustments post-expiration. The Supreme Court dismissed the petitioner's subsequent CPLR article 78 petition seeking annulment of PERB's determination. The Appellate Division affirmed the Supreme Court's judgment, deferring to PERB's expertise and finding its interpretation that the adjustments were limited to the agreement's term to be reasonable and legally permissible.

Collective Bargaining AgreementSalary AdjustmentCost-of-Living AdjustmentPublic EmployerImproper Practice ChargeCivil Service LawPublic Employment Relations BoardJudicial ReviewCPLR Article 78Statutory Interpretation
References
6
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Bruzzese v. Guardsman Elevator Co.

In 1994, the claimant sustained head, neck, and back injuries at work, leading to an award for permanent partial disability, which included a wage expectancy adjustment under Workers’ Compensation Law § 14 (5). Following back surgery in 1998, the case was reopened, and the claimant was found to be temporarily totally disabled. Benefits for this temporary total disability were calculated based on the claimant's average weekly wage at the time of injury, without applying the wage expectancy adjustment. The claimant appealed, arguing that since the permanent partial disability preceded the temporary total disability, the wage expectancy adjustment should also apply to the latter period. The court disagreed, affirming the Workers’ Compensation Board's decision, citing established case law that Workers’ Compensation Law § 14 (5) is applicable only to awards for permanent partial disability and not temporary disability.

Wage expectancyTemporary total disabilityPermanent partial disabilityWorkers' Compensation benefitsBack injuryAppellate reviewDisability calculationWorkers' Compensation BoardAverage weekly wage
References
1
Case No. ADJ312652 (STK 0204453)
Regular
Nov 14, 2008

AMADOR CISNEROS vs. CBC FRAMING and VIRGINIA SURETY, adjusted by CAMBRIDGE INTEGRATED RESOURCES

This case involves a dispute over a Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) decision to set aside a prior order and require the defendant to produce the claims adjuster for testimony. The WCAB denied the defendant's petition for removal, finding no abuse of discretion by the judge who properly used WCAB Rule § 10859 to rescind the prior order and allow for further proceedings. The defendant's arguments regarding the applicant's failure to produce the adjuster at trial were deemed premature as no order compelling appearance had been issued.

WCABPetition for RemovalOrder Setting Aside FindingsWCJ DiscretionWCAB Rule 10859Claims AdjusterMandatory Settlement ConferencePetition for ReconsiderationWCAB Rule 10843(b)AOE/COE
References
1
Case No. ADJ9103955
Regular
Aug 25, 2014

EMMANUEL BRISENO vs. CALTRANS, Permissibly Self-Insured, Adjusted By STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

This case concerns a workers' compensation appeal where the defendant, Caltrans, sought reconsideration of an award of temporary disability benefits. Caltrans argued the award should credit benefits already paid by the Employment Development Department (EDD) to prevent double recovery. The Appeals Board granted reconsideration, agreeing that the award needed adjustment for the EDD's potential lien. Consequently, the Board amended the award to require the parties to adjust the benefit amount, taking into account the EDD's potential lien interest.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardADJ9103955Emmanuel BrisenoCALTRANSPermissibly Self-InsuredState Compensation Insurance FundTemporary Disability IndemnityEmployment Development Department (EDD)EDD LienDouble Recovery
References
0
Case No. ADJ7978937
Regular
Aug 26, 2014

KATHERINE JAMES vs. STATE OF CALIFORNIA, CSP KINGS COUNTY AT CORCORAN, Legally Uninsured; STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND/STATE CONTRACT SERVICES, Adjusting Agency

The Appeals Board granted reconsideration and amended the original award, admitting defendant's Exhibit E and adjusting the temporary disability indemnity rate. While affirming the finding of a psychiatric injury, the Board rescinded all penalties and sanctions previously awarded. Defendant's assertion of a good faith personnel action defense was deemed reasonable, thus precluding penalties for delayed payment. Temporary disability amounts are to be adjusted by the parties, with jurisdiction reserved for future disputes.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardReconsiderationPsychiatric InjuryGastrointestinal SystemDepressionAnxietyPanic AttacksLoss of AppetiteTemporary DisabilityPenalties
References
14
Case No. ADJ4589994 (FRE 0246667)
Regular
Feb 25, 2013

DOROTHY VANDENBERG vs. KINGS COUNTY

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration to address an internally inconsistent clause in a Stipulated Award. Defendant sought to clarify the commencement date for the State Average Weekly Wage (SAWW) adjustment to the applicant's life pension. The Board construed the ambiguous clause, drafted by the applicant's attorney, in favor of the defendant. Consequently, the SAWW increase will commence in accordance with the *Baker v. WCAB* decision, effective January 1, 2018.

WORKERS' COMPENSATION APPEALS BOARDDOROTHY VANDENBERGKINGS COUNTYINNOVATIVE CLAIM SOLUTIONSINC.ADJ4589994FRE 0246667RECONSIDERATIONFINDINGS AND ORDERSTIPULATED AWARD
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

In re the Claim of Ford

The claimant appealed decisions from the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board denying Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) benefits. The initial February 8, 1999 decision was superseded by a May 21, 2001 decision, which the court reviewed. The court found that the Board's denial of further training was reasonable because the claimant had already received suitable paralegal training under Labor Law § 599. The claimant left her paralegal employment to continue law school, rather than finding permanent work in the field for which she was already trained. Consequently, the court affirmed the May 21, 2001 decision and dismissed the appeal from the April 5, 1999 decision as moot.

Trade Adjustment AssistanceTAA BenefitsUnemployment InsuranceEligibilityVocational TrainingParalegal TrainingAdministrative LawAppellate ReviewStatutory InterpretationFederal Trade Act
References
5
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