CompFox Logo
AboutWorkflowFeaturesPricingCase LawInsights

Updated Daily

Case Law Database

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

Case No. ADJ2651648 (MON 0342704)
Regular
Jul 18, 2017

TERESA SANCHEZ vs. HAWTHORNE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, SUBSEQUENT INJURIES BENEFITS TRUST FUND

The Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund (SIBTF) sought reconsideration of an award granting applicant benefits for a 2006 industrial injury, arguing the prior disability rating was insufficient. The applicant had two industrial injuries: a 1997-2002 cumulative trauma and the 2006 specific injury, both causing fibromyalgia. The WCJ found the combined disability from both injuries exceeded the threshold for SIBTF benefits, based on her primary treating physician's rating. The Appeals Board affirmed the WCJ's decision, adopting the judge's report which found the applicant met the criteria for SIBTF benefits, and denied the SIBTF's petition.

Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust FundSIBTFcumulative traumacompensable consequencefibromyalgiapermanent and stationaryAgreed Medical ExaminerAMA Guides1997 rating scheduleprimary treating physician
References
0
Case No. ADJ286062 (OAK 0307695)
Regular
Apr 06, 2009

RICHARD BARTON vs. USS POSCO INDUSTRIES, USK CORPORATION

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration and affirmed a prior decision finding applicant sustained industrial injuries to his neck, right shoulder, and arms. The Board amended the decision to defer the issue of back injury and certain sanctions. Defendant challenged the original decision, arguing the WCJ erred in finding a back injury, a $\S 132(\text{a})$ violation, and in relying on a specific doctor's report. The Board adopted the WCJ's report, granting reconsideration to amend the findings and deferring those specific issues.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardLabor Code § 132(a)Petition for ReconsiderationDecision After ReconsiderationApplicantDefendantIndustrial InjuryLaborerPrimary Treating PhysicianSecondary Treating Physicians
References
0
Case No. 03-cv-4134
Regular Panel Decision

Infantolino v. Joint Industry Board of the Electrical Industry

Anthony Infantolino sued the Joint Industry Board of the Electrical Industry (JIB) and Thomas Bush, alleging unlawful retaliation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and New York State/City laws. JIB moved for summary judgment, arguing procedural defects and substantive failures, including that it was not Infantolino's employer. The court found JIB to be a 'joint labor-management committee' and thus a 'covered entity' under the ADA, refuting the employer argument. The court denied summary judgment regarding the retaliation claims, finding genuine issues of fact as to whether JIB's stated reasons for its actions were pretexts for impermissible retaliation. However, the motion for summary judgment was granted in part, denying punitive and compensatory damages for the ADA retaliation claim and punitive damages for the New York State Human Rights Law claim, but allowing punitive damages for the New York City Human Rights Law claim.

ADA RetaliationDisability DiscriminationSummary JudgmentBurden-Shifting FrameworkCausal ConnectionPretextPunitive DamagesCompensatory DamagesNew York City Human Rights LawNew York State Human Rights Law
References
36
Case No. SAC 0309561, SAC 0309562
Regular
Jan 31, 2008

DERHONDA HAYNES vs. SOUTH POINTE ACADEMY SCHOOL, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied the applicant's petition for reconsideration, upholding the findings that her industrial injuries on December 3 and 7, 2001, resulted in specific permanent disability percentages. The applicant's claim for additional temporary and permanent psychiatric disability was rejected because the medical evidence, particularly Dr. Stewart's report, was found to be contradictory and lacked a sufficient apportionment of disability to each specific industrial injury as required by law. The Board emphasized that to justify a permanent disability award, medical reports must clearly delineate the percentage of disability caused by each separate industrial injury.

Petition for ReconsiderationFindings and AwardsIndustrial InjuryPermanent DisabilityPermanent and Stationary DatePsychological DisabilityApportionmentSubstantial Medical EvidenceSB 899Labor Code Section 4663
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Foulton v. Martec Industries

The claimant, a laborer for Martec Industries, sought workers' compensation benefits for a back injury allegedly sustained on June 7, 2006. Martec and its workers' compensation carrier controverted the claim, citing the claimant's history of prior back injuries in 1998 and 2000. A Workers' Compensation Law Judge initially awarded benefits, concluding the June 7, 2006 incident constituted an accidental work-related aggravation of prior injuries, a decision affirmed by the Workers' Compensation Board. On appeal, the court reversed the Board's decision, finding insufficient evidence that the June 7, 2006 incident caused a new disability. Evidence showed the claimant had experienced chronic back pain since 1998, and physicians attributed his disability primarily to preexisting conditions. The matter was remitted to the Workers' Compensation Board for further proceedings.

Workers' CompensationBack InjuryAggravationPreexisting ConditionMedical EvidenceDisability BenefitsAppellate ReviewReversalRemittalEmployer Liability
References
3
Case No. ADJ9210498
Regular
Apr 04, 2017

ELEANOR DEFRANCO vs. MONTEREY FISH COMPANY, ENSTAR (US) INC., dba ENSTAR ADMINISTRATORS FOR SEABRIGHT INSURANCE COMPANY

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) granted reconsideration of a prior award that found industrial injury to applicant's right ankle, right shoulder, and back, but not her right knee. The WCAB rescinded the finding of industrial injury to the back, while otherwise affirming the prior decision. Specifically, the WCAB affirmed the finding that the applicant sustained industrial injury to her right ankle and right shoulder, and that medical treatment for her right knee is compensable to relieve the effects of the industrial injuries. The WCAB adopted the WCJ's reasoning for these decisions, including the application of the *Braewood* principle for treating the non-industrial knee condition.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardEleanor DefrancoMonterey Fish CompanyEnstarSeabright Insurance CompanyIndustrial InjuryRight AnkleRight ShoulderRight KneeBack Injury
References
1
Case No. ADJ1970560 (OAK 0344240)
Regular
Mar 09, 2016

VAZGEN MANAS vs. THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS, as administrator of the SUBSEQUENT INJURIES BENEFITS TRUST FUND

This case concerns a credit sought by the Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund (SIBTF) for permanent disability advances paid to the applicant. The SIBTF argued that its liability for combined permanent disability should be calculated under Labor Code section 4751, which limits liability to the difference between the combined disability and the disability from the subsequent injury alone. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board agreed, reversing the prior finding that allowed a credit under section 4753 for the employer's payments. The Board clarified that section 4753 applies to payments for preexisting disability, not the subsequent industrial injury, and thus SIBTF's credit is limited by section 4751.

Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust FundLabor Code section 4751Labor Code section 4753permanent disability advancespreexisting permanent disabilitysubsequent industrial injurycombined permanent disabilitycreditWCJFindings of Fact
References
6
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Apr 11, 2003

Coku v. Millar Elevator Industries, Inc.

The plaintiffs appealed a judgment dismissing their complaint against Millar Elevator Industries, Inc. The injured plaintiff, a maintenance worker, allegedly sustained injuries when he fell from a stepladder in a service elevator that suddenly dropped. The trial court erred in refusing to instruct the jury on the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur, despite the plaintiffs establishing the necessary elements (event ordinarily indicating negligence, defendant's exclusive control, and no plaintiff contribution). Consequently, the appellate court reversed the judgment, reinstated the complaint, and granted the plaintiffs a new trial against Millar Elevator Industries, Inc. Additionally, testimony regarding an experiment with the stepladder was deemed inadmissible for the new trial.

Personal InjuryNegligenceRes Ipsa LoquiturElevator AccidentStepladder FallJury InstructionsExclusive ControlNew TrialAdmissibility of EvidenceAppellate Procedure
References
4
Case No. ADJ3321235 (SFO 0492639)
Regular
Apr 29, 2011

Nick Calvan vs. Pacific Gas & Electric, Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund

This Workers' Compensation Appeals Board decision grants reconsideration of a prior award and rescinds the original findings. The Board finds that the applicant sustained industrial injury to his low back, legs, shoulders, and psyche. However, the case is returned to the trial level for further proceedings because the original decision lacked necessary findings on permanent disability, apportionment, and the liability of the Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund, specifically regarding Labor Code section 4751. The Board did affirm the finding of psychiatric injury arising out of and occurring in the course of employment.

Workers Compensation Appeals BoardSubsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fundpermanent disabilitypsychiatric injuryapportionmentLabor Code 4751Labor Code 4659Labor Code 4662vocational assessmentcausation
References
0
Case No. ADJ6900339
Regular
Nov 13, 2017

Gloria Frialde vs. TJ Ward, Truck Insurance Exchange, Subsequent Injuries Benefit Trust Fund

This Workers' Compensation Appeals Board decision amends a prior award, primarily by removing a finding of industrial injury related to a sleep disorder. The Board found that the applicant's sleep issues stemmed from pain from her physical injuries, not a separate sleep disorder, and thus not separately compensable. The matter is returned to the trial level to re-determine the applicant's permanent disability, considering the corrected findings and specific instructions regarding life pension and permanent disability indemnity rates. The applicant's claim for benefits from the Subsequent Injuries Benefit Trust Fund was denied.

Workers Compensation Appeals BoardReconsiderationOpinion and DecisionFindings Orders and AwardCumulative TraumaPermanent DisabilityApportionmentSubsequent Injuries Benefit Trust FundVocational ExpertAlmaraz/Guzman
References
10
Showing 1-10 of 16,137 results

Ready to streamline your practice?

Apply these legal strategies instantly. CompFox helps you find decisions, analyze reports, and draft pleadings in minutes.

CompFox Logo

The AI standard for workers' compensation professionals. Faster research, deeper analysis, better outcomes.

Product

  • Platform
  • Workflow
  • Features
  • Pricing

Solutions

  • Defense Firms
  • Applicants' Attorneys
  • Insurance carriers
  • Medical Providers

Company

  • About
  • Insights
  • Case Law

Legal

  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Trust
  • Cookies
  • Subscription

© 2026 CompFox Inc. All rights reserved.

Systems Operational