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

Case No. ADJ8026817
Regular
Apr 22, 2013

MARIA OCHOA vs. RANGERS DIE CASTING COMPANY, COMPWEST INSURANCE COMPANY

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) granted reconsideration of a decision finding the applicant sustained injury to her respiratory system and psyche AOE/COE. The WCAB rescinded the decision and returned the case to the trial level, finding the medical opinions of Dr. Lipper and Dr. Curtis lacked substantiality. Specifically, the physicians failed to provide clear diagnoses, quantify exposures, or adequately explain causation. The Board noted contradictory testimony from the applicant's supervisor and insufficient evidence to support the initial findings.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardMaria OchoaRangers Die Casting CompanyCOMPWEST INSURANCE COMPANYADJ8026817Los Angeles District OfficeOpinion and Order Granting ReconsiderationDecision After ReconsiderationFindings of FactWorkers' Compensation Administrative Law Judge (WCJ)
References
Case No. ADJ8804613
Regular
Jun 03, 2016

KIM LARSEN vs. UKIAH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied the defendant school district's petition for reconsideration of an award for acute myeloid leukemia. The Board found the applicant's exposure to diesel exhaust while employed by the school district was an injurious exposure contributing to the cancer. The Board ruled that the agreed medical evaluator's reports were admissible and constituted substantial medical evidence of the link between diesel exhaust and leukemia. Therefore, the school district was held liable as the last employer where the applicant was exposed to the hazard.

acute myeloid leukemiadiesel exhaust exposurecumulative traumalast injurious exposureagreed medical evaluatorlabor code section 5500.5reasonably probable causationsubstantial medical evidencebenzene exposurefirefighter
References
Case No. BAK 0141141
Regular
Mar 07, 2008

Briant Certuche vs. TRANS-SYSTEMS, INC., STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board rescinded the previous decision, finding insufficient consideration of whether the applicant's Valley Fever infection was industrially caused or solely due to living in the San Joaquin Valley. The case is returned to the trial level for further development of the medical record, specifically to address the relative likelihood of environmental versus occupational exposure. This decision acknowledges that employment need only be a contributory cause for injury compensability.

Workers' Compensation Appeals Boardindustrial injuryValley Fevercoccidiomycosisproximate causeoccupational exposuregeographic endemicmedical-legal expertsubstantial evidencecontributing cause
References
Case No. ADJ8218969
Regular
Feb 05, 2015

JOSE CARRILLO (Deceased) ELVIRA CARRILLO (Widow) vs. ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, ARCH INSURANCE, Administered by ESIS

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration of a taken nothing order concerning the death claim of Jose Carrillo, who died of renal cell carcinoma. The initial decision found the widow failed to prove her husband's cancer was industrially caused by toxic exposure during his employment. The Board found the Qualified Medical Evaluator's opinion equivocal and the record insufficient to determine the extent of the decedent's exposure to carcinogens. Therefore, the case was returned to the trial judge for further development of the record regarding chemical exposure and a new determination of industrial causation.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardElvira CarrilloJose CarrilloEsterline Technologies CorporationArch InsuranceESISADJ8218969Petition for ReconsiderationFindings and Ordertaken nothing order
References
Case No. ADJ6824732
Regular
Sep 06, 2012

SHEILA CORREIA, KENNETH BURNETT (Deceased) vs. VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS, AMERICAN HOME ASSURANCE COMPANY, CHARTIS, SEDGWICK CLAIMS MANAGEMENT SERVICES

This case concerns a deceased worker, Kenneth Burnett, diagnosed with mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure. The sole issue was determining the date of last injurious exposure to establish liability. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied reconsideration of the judge's decision. The judge found the applicant's medical expert's opinion on a five to ten-year latency period to be more persuasive than the defendant's expert's twenty-year period. This led to a finding that the decedent's last injurious asbestos exposure occurred between 1996 and 2001, during his employment with Verizon.

MesotheliomaLatency PeriodAsbestos ExposureDate of Last Injurious ExposureLC §5500.5LC §5412Verizon CommunicationsSedgwick Claims Management ServicesDr. LurosDr. Raybin
References
Case No. ADJ11145478
Regular
Mar 11, 2020

Belen Ramirez vs. SATE OF CLALIFORNIA, DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS/HEMAN STARK YOUTH CORRECTIONAL FACILITY

The Appeals Board granted reconsideration of the WCJ's decision that the applicant failed to prove injury arising out of and in the course of employment (AOE/COE). The Board found that the Qualified Medical Examiner's (QME) reports and deposition testimony lacked substantial evidence due to inconsistencies regarding causation of the applicant's sarcoidosis and exposure to asbestos. Consequently, the Board rescinded the WCJ's order and returned the case for further development of the record. This further development should include clarifying the QME's opinions on causation and potentially obtaining a new medical evaluation if necessary.

SarcoidosisQualified Medical Examiner (QME)AOE/COESubstantial evidenceMedical opinionRecord developmentAsbestos exposurePulmonary medicineOccupational exposureEtiology
References
Case No. LBO 0377371
Regular
Apr 28, 2008

EDUBIJES TORREZ vs. RED HILLS COUNTRY CLUB, CHUBB SERVICES CORPORATION, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied Chubb Insurance's petition for reconsideration, affirming the original finding that Edubijes Torrez sustained a cumulative trauma injury (leiomyosarcoma) due to chemical exposure as a groundskeeper. The Board found that despite the provision of protective gear in 1998, the applicant's exposure continued through his last year of employment, making Chubb, the insurer during that period, liable for the $100\%$ permanent disability award. Chubb's argument that exposure ceased in 1998 was rejected due to evidence of ineffective protective gear and continued exposure.

LeiomyosarcomaCumulative traumaLabor Code section 5500.5Injurious exposureRespirator protective gearLatency periodIndustrial chemical exposurePermanent disabilityGroundskeeperRed Hill Country Club
References
Case No. ADJ460520 (SAL 0101308)
Regular
Feb 22, 2010

Joaquin Borges vs. COUNTY OF SANTA CRUZ

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration to reverse a finding that applicant Joaquin Borges sustained a cumulative trauma injury from asbestos exposure while employed by the County of Santa Cruz in 1989, resulting in colorectal cancer. The Board found insufficient substantial medical evidence to establish causation, noting Dr. Duncan's opinion relied on an inaccurate exposure history and lacked a clear dose-response analysis for non-asbestos worker exposure. The matter is returned to the trial level to determine if applicant is entitled to a presumption of injury under Labor Code section 3212.1.

Cumulative traumaAsbestos exposureColorectal cancerIndustrial injuryMedical probabilityExposure assessmentLatency periodDose-response relationshipPeace officer presumptionLabor Code section 3212.1
References
Case No. ADJ1402736
Regular
Jan 04, 2010

SANDY BASTIAN vs. COUNTY OF VENTURA

This case involves a firefighter diagnosed with breast cancer who claimed industrial injury under California Labor Code section 3212.1. The defendant employer argued the statutory presumption of industrial causation was rebutted by an Agreed Medical Examiner's opinion stating the cancer was non-industrial, citing a lack of studies linking female firefighter exposures to breast cancer. The Appeals Board affirmed the WCJ's decision, finding the applicant sufficiently demonstrated exposure to carcinogens and the defendant failed to meet its burden to prove the exposure was "not reasonably linked" to the cancer. The court clarified that the mere absence of specific epidemiological studies does not rebut the presumption under section 3212.1.

Labor Code section 3212.1firefightercancer presumptionindustrial injuryrebuttable presumptioncarcinogen exposureAgreed Medical Examiner (AME)non-industrial causationindustrial causationAppeals Board
References
Case No. ADJ8157891
Regular
Apr 15, 2016

JESSE CASTELLON vs. ORANGE COUNTY VECTOR CONTROL, ACCLAMATION INSURANCE MANAGEMENT SERVICES

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied the defendant's petition for reconsideration of a finding that pesticide exposure contributed to the applicant's lymphoma, diabetes, and hypertension. The defendant argued the relied-upon medical expert erred by discussing Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma instead of the applicant's diagnosed Hodgkin's Lymphoma. However, the Board found the expert's report sufficiently addressed Hodgkin's Lymphoma and its link to benzene exposure, incorporating the WCJ's reasoning. Therefore, the Board affirmed the original findings and denied the petition.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardPetition for ReconsiderationFindings of Factindustrial causationpesticide exposurelymphomadiabeteshypertensionsubstantial medical evidenceDr. Nachman Brautbar
References
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