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. ADJ8128282
Regular
Jan 23, 2014

ANGELA EGBIKUADJE vs. CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATIONS, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration and rescinded a prior award, returning the case for further proceedings. The defendant, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, argued that the applicant's psychiatric injury claim was preempted by the ADA and not proven under Labor Code section 3208.3. The Board found the original decision lacked proper analysis regarding predominant industrial causation and the good faith personnel action defense. Therefore, the case was remanded for further development of the record, including expert medical opinion on these issues.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardAngela EgbikuadjeCalifornia Department of Corrections and RehabilitationLegally UninsuredState Compensation Insurance FundADJ8128282Van Nuys District OfficeReconsiderationFindings and AwardIndustrial cumulative trauma injury
References
Case No. ADJ7977732, ADJ8044285, ADJ8044807
Regular
Nov 07, 2014

OSCAR ALVAREZ vs. EBUS, TRAVELERS INSURANCE COMPANY

The Appeals Board withdrew a Notice of Intention to Issue Sanctions against lien claimant Mednet, Inc. and its representative, Michael Goldberg. Initially, sanctions were considered for filing a skeletal, unverified Petition for Reconsideration and failing to appear at a lien conference, deemed bad faith actions causing delay. However, after Mednet explained the actions as an "honest mistake" due to lack of experience and apologized, the Board found the petition was not filed in bad faith or as a frivolous tactic. Mednet was admonished to familiarize itself with Appeals Board rules regarding liens and filings, but sanctions were ultimately withdrawn.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardRemovalNotice of Intention to Issue SanctionsLien ClaimantPetition for ReconsiderationSkeletal PetitionUnverified PetitionNon-Final OrderLien ConferenceBad Faith Actions
References
Case No. ADJ7678424
Regular
Dec 05, 2013

ROGELIO ORTIZ ROSALES vs. HYDRO SCAPE PRODUCTS, INC., ZURICH NORTH AMERICA CLAIMS

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied the defendant's petition for removal while granting it on its own motion. This action stemmed from the defendant's violation of Rules of Practice and Procedure by attaching 77 pages of previously admitted exhibits to their petition. Consequently, sanctions of $275 were imposed jointly and severally on the defendant's insurer, their legal firm, and the attorney for bad faith actions and tactics that caused unnecessary burden. The sanctions were subsequently paid by the defendant's legal firm.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardPetition for RemovalWCJDiscoveryAbuse of DiscretionSanctionsLabor Code section 5813Rules of Practice and ProcedureBad Faith ActionsFrivolous Tactics
References
Case No. ADJ3512665 (ANA 0410076)
Regular

TROY GRANTZ vs. STATE FARM INSURANCE COMPANY, CNA CLAIMS, administered by SEDGWICK CLAIMS MANAGEMENT SERVICES

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied a Petition for Reconsideration in the case of Troy Grantz. The denial was based on the report of the workers' compensation administrative law judge, which the Board adopted. The Board also noted its authority to impose sanctions for bad-faith actions or tactics intended to cause unnecessary delay under Labor Code Section 5813. Sanctions can be applied to lien claimants or their representatives for actions such as repeated failure to appear without reasonable excuse.

WORKERS' COMPENSATION APPEALS BOARDPetition for ReconsiderationWorkers' Compensation Administrative Law JudgeWCJ ReportLabor Code § 5813SanctionsLien ClaimantBad Faith ActionsFrivolous TacticsUnnecessary Delay
References
Case No. ADJ1785113 (LAO 0805120) ADJ3046898 (LAO 0805121) ADJ918089 (LAO 0827742)
Regular
Oct 15, 2012

JOSE DE JESUS VILLA vs. ORANGE BANG, INC., STATE FARM FIRE & CASUALTY COMPANY

This case concerns a lien claimant, Frontier Medical, Inc., appealing sanctions imposed by a WCJ for its "bad-faith actions or tactics." The Appeals Board rescinded the original order, affirming the sanctions but deferring the issues of Frontier's lien, costs, and attorney fees to the trial level. The Board strongly admonished Frontier and its representatives for sanctionable conduct, including litigating a lien without evidence and misrepresenting facts. The matter was returned to the WCJ for further proceedings consistent with the opinion.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardReconsiderationSanctionsLien ClaimantJurisdictionDue ProcessLabor Code Section 5813Bad FaithMisrepresentationFrivolous Tactics
References
Case No. ADJ9700517
Regular
Oct 05, 2018

JEANNE WILLIAMS vs. CITY OF LOS ANGELES

The Appeals Board rescinded the prior award and returned the case to the trial level for further proceedings. The Board found the original decision on the good faith personnel action defense was unclear and required further development. Specifically, the WCJ must clarify which events constituted lawful, nondiscriminatory, good faith personnel actions. The parties will then need to re-address whether these specific actions were a substantial cause of the applicant's psychiatric injury with the medical evaluator.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardPSYCHE INJURYGOOD FAITH PERSONNEL ACTIONLABOR CODE §3208.3(H)TEMPORARY DISABILITYPANEL QUALIFIED MEDICAL EVALUATOR (PQME)DR. ELATROZYROLDA ANALYSISSUBSTANTIAL CAUSELAWFUL PERSONNEL ACTION
References
Case No. ADJ11080934
Regular
Oct 28, 2025

JUAN MARTINEZ vs. CREAM OF THE CROP AG SERVICE, INC.; CA FARM MANAGEMENT, INC.

The applicant, Juan Martinez, sought reconsideration of a prior decision that reversed a Workers' Compensation Administrative Law Judge's (WCJ) order imposing sanctions against the defendant for alleged frivolous tactics. The Appeals Board originally found insufficient evidence of bad-faith conduct by the defendant, Cream of the Crop AG Service, Inc. and CA Farm Management, Inc. In this petition, the applicant sought clarification on the standard of review and claimed certain issues were not addressed. The Board denied the applicant's petition, reiterating its finding that the defendant's actions did not constitute bad-faith litigation tactics under Labor Code section 5813, and confirmed that the responsibility for pursuing discovery, such as a neuropsychological evaluation recommended by Dr. Bhatia in 2018, did not rest solely on the defendant.

WCABPetition for ReconsiderationLabor Code Section 5813SanctionsAttorneys' FeesFrivolous TacticsBad Faith ConductNeuropsychology EvaluationAdditional PanelsReconsideration Proceedings
References
Case No. ADJ505656 (OAK 0287878)
Regular
Mar 13, 2009

LAURA EVERHART vs. DSL PRINTING, INC., TRAVELERS PROPERTY CASUALTY COMPANY

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration and rescinded an order imposing $2,500 in sanctions against Travelers Property Casualty Company. The Board found that Travelers' insistence on including hold-harmless language in a settlement agreement, even after the judge indicated it would not be approved, did not constitute bad faith. The WCJ overstepped his authority by attempting to dictate settlement terms before an agreement was finalized.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardRemovalReconsiderationSanctionsLabor Code section 5813Compromise and Release AgreementBad Faith ConductMedicare Set-AsideHold-Harmless LanguageWCJ
References
Case No. Misc. No. 254
En Banc
Sep 21, 2011

WORKERS' COMPENSATION APPEALS BOARD STATE OF CALIFORNIA vs. Daniel Escamilla

Notice of a hearing to consider suspending or removing Daniel Escamilla's privilege to appear before the WCAB due to a pattern of repeated sanctions for bad-faith actions, frivolous tactics, and filing pleadings with false statements of fact.

Labor Code 4907Privilege SuspensionRemoval of PrivilegeBad Faith ActionsFrivolous TacticsUnnecessary DelayWillful Non-ComplianceDisruption of ProceedingsMeritleless ArgumentsSanctions
References
Case No. ADJ9116784
Regular
Nov 14, 2014

MICHAEL HERRERA vs. ACTION 2 MAINTENANCE, PREFERRED EMPLOYERS INSURANCE COMPANY

Here's a concise summary of the case for a lawyer: A lien claimant's petition for reconsideration was denied due to untimely filing of a lien and failure to appear at trial. The Appeals Board, on its own motion, granted removal to address sanctions. The Board intends to impose a $2,000 sanction and $525 in attorney fees against the lien claimant and its representative for frivolous and bad-faith actions causing delay. The lien claimant has 15 days plus mailing time to object.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardLien ClaimantPetition for ReconsiderationFindings and OrderDismissalAttorney FeesSanctionsLabor Code Section 5813Bad Faith ActionsFrivolous Tactics
References
Showing 1-10 of 1,652 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