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Case Law Database

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

Case No. ADJ2802696 (STK 0206161)
Regular
Mar 23, 2009

PAM ELLIOTT vs. MOSAIC SALES SOLUTIONS, THE HARTFORD

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) rescinded a prior award and returned the case to the trial level for further proceedings. The applicant, injured in 2004, argued the 2005 permanent disability schedule inadequately addressed her diminished future earning capacity. Citing its recent en banc decisions in *Almaraz/Guzman* and *Ogilvie*, the WCAB found these decisions established that both the AMA Guides and the diminished future earning capacity (DFEC) portions of the 2005 Schedule are rebuttable. The case was remanded for further consideration of the applicant's arguments in light of these binding precedents.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardPetition for ReconsiderationPermanent Disability Rating2005 ScheduleAMA GuidesDiminished Future Earning CapacityVocational Rehabilitation ExpertRebuttable PresumptionStare DecisisAlmaraz/Guzman
References
5
Case No. ADJ3600842 (SDO 0363689)
Regular
Jan 27, 2010

THEMAS POULIN vs. COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO

This case involves an applicant who sustained an industrial injury to his heart and hypertension. The initial award granted 65% permanent disability, which the defendant challenged, arguing the assigned Whole Person Impairment was disproportionately high and that Diminished Future Earning Capacity should be zero. The Appeals Board rescinded the original award and returned the matter for a new decision. This is because the trial judge had not yet considered the implications of the recent en banc decisions in *Almaraz II* and *Ogilvie II* regarding the rebuttability of scheduled permanent disability ratings and the evaluation of Diminished Future Earning Capacity. The Board noted concerns about the assigned impairment rating in light of the applicant's return to work and potential future earning capacity.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardDeputy SheriffIndustrial InjuryHeart ConditionHypertensionPermanent DisabilityWhole Person ImpairmentAgreed Medical EvaluatorReconsiderationAlmaraz
References
5
Case No. ADJ6721939
Regular
Mar 01, 2010

BERTHA NORIEGA GARCIA vs. PATRICK L. HINRICHSEN, CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES INSURANCE COMPANY

This case is remanded for further proceedings because the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) did not fully analyze the Diminished Future Earning Capacity (DFEC) adjustment factor under the *Ogilvie* decisions. The ALJ improperly relied solely on applicant's testimony for lost earnings without a proper *Ogilvie* analysis, including the duration of post-injury earnings and consideration of other factors affecting earning capacity. The ALJ must conduct a complete *Ogilvie* analysis, weigh the evidence, and explain how the adjusted DFEC factor reflects the applicant's actual earning capacity compared to the scheduled rating. The Board also clarified that temporary disability indemnity is not to be treated as post-injury earnings.

Diminished Future Earning CapacityDFECOgilvie analysisRebuttalScheduled Permanent Disability RatingPost-injury earningsEarnings lossTemporary disability indemnityPermanent and stationary dateTriers-of-fact
References
3
Case No. ADJ7859239, ADJ7859246
Regular
Mar 10, 2014

BELINDA BURTON vs. SAN LUIS OBISPO CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER, REDWOOD FIRE AND CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY

The applicant seeks reconsideration of two decisions regarding permanent disability ratings, arguing she was denied the opportunity to rebut the defense's Diminished Future Earning Capacity (DFEC) expert report. The Board granted reconsideration, finding the applicant was deprived of due process by not being afforded adequate time to obtain a rebuttal report to the defense's late-disclosed DFEC expert report. The original decisions are rescinded, and the matters are returned for further proceedings, allowing both parties time to obtain rebuttal and response reports from their respective DFEC experts. Discovery will then be closed, and the parties can request trial.

Diminished Future Earning CapacityDFEC expert reportRebuttal reportDue processWCAB Rule 10507Mandatory Settlement ConferenceVocational expert evidencePermanent disability ratingReconsiderationFindings and Award
References
6
Case No. ADJ1205641
Regular
Mar 26, 2012

TERESA EDGE vs. RALPH'S GROCERY STORE

This case involves a deli manager injured in 2004, claiming 82% permanent disability and rebuttal of the Diminished Future Earning Capacity (DFEC) factor based on previous Appeals Board rulings. The defendant argued against the rebuttal and challenged the applicant's average weekly earnings calculation. The Appeals Board rescinded the original award and remanded the case for further proceedings. This is due to subsequent Supreme Court and Court of Appeal decisions, specifically *Baker* and *Ogilvie III*, which impact the proper application of permanent disability ratings and earnings calculations. The judge must now reconsider these issues in light of the new legal precedents.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardReconsiderationFindings and AwardDeli ManagerIndustrial InjuryNeckShouldersHandsWristsPermanent Disability
References
5
Case No. ADJ3303329 (MON 0363353) ADJ6697361
Regular
Oct 21, 2010

RAMIRO O. VELASQUEZ vs. MOONLIGHT MOLDS, CYPRESS INSURANCE COMPANY, BROOKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME STATE COMPANIES

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board rescinded a prior award, returning the case for further proceedings. The original award found the applicant suffered an industrial injury resulting in 64% permanent disability and the need for further medical treatment, including a rebuttal of the future earning capacity component. The defendant challenged the permanent disability rating, arguing the judge improperly applied the Ogilvie standard for assessing diminished future earning capacity. The Board found the applicant's testimony alone insufficient to rebut the scheduled factor, necessitating development of the record on earning capacity.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardMoonlight MoldsCypress Insurance CompanyRamiro O. Velasquezsandblasterlaborerindustrial injurylow backfuture earning capacitypermanent disability
References
5
Case No. ADJ2079252
Regular
Jan 25, 2010

JON SHINI vs. PACIFIC COAST AUTO BODY & TRUCK, FARMERS SANTA ANA

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) granted reconsideration and rescinded the prior award due to the administrative law judge's (WCJ) failure to fully analyze the issues presented in *Ogilvie I* and *Ogilvie II*. Specifically, the WCJ improperly applied the diminished future earning capacity (DFEC) rebuttal formula without sufficient evidentiary development regarding the applicant's post-injury earnings and potential for malingering. The Board remanded the case for further proceedings to conduct a complete *Ogilvie* analysis, including weighing the scheduled rating against the adjusted DFEC factor and considering factors such as the applicant's credibility. The defendant's contention regarding industrial injury to the psyche was not addressed, with the Board allowing it to be raised in further proceedings.

OgilvieDiminished Future Earning CapacityDFECReconsiderationRebuttalPermanent Disability Rating SchedulePost-injury earningsEarning capacityAgreed Medical EvaluatorMalingering
References
3
Case No. ADJ6875600
Regular
Nov 18, 2014

Sharon Walter vs. International Capital Group, State Compensation Insurance Fund

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration to further develop the record regarding applicant Sharon Walter's diminished future earning capacity. The Board found the vocational expert evidence presented was inadequate to support a finding of total permanent disability or to rebut the future earning capacity factor as required by *Ogilvie*. The case is remanded to the trial level to allow for the selection or appointment of a vocational expert to assess applicant's diminished future earning capacity, and the trial judge may then address claims for increased permanent disability.

Workers Compensation Appeals BoardPermanent DisabilityFuture Earning CapacityVocational ExpertReconsiderationLabor Code Section 4662Labor Code Section 4658(d)(2)OgilvieAgreed Medical ExaminerApportionment
References
2
Case No. ADJ4192266 (VNO 0544329)
Regular
Mar 07, 2011

JOHN HENRY vs. CITY OF SANTA MONICA, Permissibly Self-Insured

This case involves a police officer's workers' compensation claim for multiple injuries. The applicant was awarded 85% permanent disability and an additional 15% increase due to the employer's failure to offer suitable work within 60 days of the applicant reaching permanent and stationary status. The defendant sought reconsideration, arguing it had offered work and that the applicant's post-injury earnings rebutted the diminished future earning capacity (DFEC) presumption. The Appeals Board granted reconsideration, rescinded the prior award, and returned the case for further proceedings. The Board found the employer's work offer was invalid because the applicant had not reached permanent and stationary status for all his injuries at the time of the offer. Furthermore, the defendant failed to adequately rebut the DFEC presumption by not presenting comprehensive evidence regarding earning capacity beyond just post-injury earnings.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardReconsiderationFindings and AwardPermanent DisabilitySection 4658(d)Diminished Future Earning CapacityDFECQualified Medical EvaluatorQMEAgreed Medical Examiner
References
4
Case No. SJO 0253554
Regular
May 21, 2007

ANTHONY FELIX vs. CRESCENT TRUCK LINES, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) rescinded the previous award due to an improper calculation of permanent disability based on diminished future earning capacity (DFEC). The WCAB found that the administrative law judge erred by directly converting the vocational expert's DFEC finding into an overall permanent disability percentage without proper application of statutory guidelines. The case is returned for further development of the record regarding how DFEC modifiers in the rating schedule reflect actual earning capacity loss.

Diminished Future Earning CapacityVocational ExpertPermanent Disability RatingAMA GuidesSection 4660ReconsiderationFindings and AwardAgreed Medical EvaluatorWCJ ReportRating Specialist
References
1
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