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

Case No. ADJ383777
Regular
Apr 04, 2011

Roxanna Ortiz vs. ONE SOURCE, ESIS

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied Roxanna Ortiz's petition for reconsideration of a prior findings and order. The initial ruling determined she sustained industrial injury only to her cervical spine as a janitor, not to other body parts or any resulting temporary/permanent disability or need for further medical treatment. Ortiz argued the judge erred by favoring defense medical reports and discrediting her testimony due to minor inconsistencies in her injury description. The Board adopted the WCJ's report, emphasizing deference to credibility determinations and that admissibility of medical reports should have been challenged at trial, not on reconsideration. A dissenting opinion argued the judge overemphasized minor variations in Ortiz's account and that medical evidence did not sufficiently support denial of other injuries or further treatment.

OrtizOne SourceESISWCABFindings and OrderPetition for ReconsiderationWorkers' Compensation Administrative Law Judgeindustrial injurycervical spineright arm
References
Case No. MON 0325089 MON 0325090
Regular
Oct 05, 2007

NORA MEDEARIS vs. COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES

This case concerns the denial of an applicant's petition for reconsideration of a workers' compensation award. The applicant sought further temporary disability benefits beyond the 104-week limit imposed by Labor Code § 4656(c)(1). The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied the petition, finding the applicant failed to prove equitable estoppel against the defendant's application of the statutory limit, despite the defendant's initial refusal to authorize shoulder surgery. The Board adopted the WCJ's reasoning that the applicant did not demonstrate reliance on any conduct by the defendant that prevented her from timely pursuing authorization for the surgery.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardNora MedearisCounty of Los AngelesPermissibly Self-InsuredMON 0325089MON 0325090Opinion and Order Denying Petition for ReconsiderationInterim Joint Findings and AwardCentral Services TechnicianIndustrial Injury
References
Case No. RDG 0119917
Regular
Feb 04, 2008

WILLIAM ROBERTS vs. BURGER KING, ZENITH INSURANCE COMPANY

This case affirmed a finding of 100% permanent disability for an industrial injury to an assistant manager's left knee, shoulder, hip, and leg. The Appeals Board ruled that a physician's report indicating the existence of permanent disability before reaching the "permanent and stationary" status qualified for using the older 1997 permanent disability rating schedule. The Board found substantial evidence supported the 100% rating, deferring to the WCJ's credibility assessment.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardPermanent Disability Rating ScheduleReconsiderationIndustrial InjuryAssistant ManagerLeft KneeLeft ShoulderLeft HipLeft LegPermanent Disability
References
Case No. VNO 0456809
Regular
Oct 02, 2007

JAVAD BASSIRY, vs. AMERICAN RESIDENTIAL SERVICES; ZURICH NORTH AMERICA

This case involves Javad Bassiry's workers' compensation claim for injuries sustained as a plumber tech. The Appeals Board granted reconsideration to amend a finding of fact regarding the specific body parts injured. Ultimately, the Board affirmed the original decision but with the clarified finding of injury to the applicant's left shoulder, neck, left arm, left wrist, and lower abdominal muscle.

Javad BassiryAmerican Residential ServicesZurich North AmericaVNO 0456809ReconsiderationJuly 30 2007Plumber techOccupational Group No. 481March 8 2002Left shoulder
References
Case No. LBO 0370773, LBO 0377679, LBO 0377749
Regular
Oct 10, 2007

LULIO ARAUJO vs. THE QUEEN MARY, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

This case involves an applicant seeking reconsideration of a Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) decision. The applicant sustained injuries to his right shoulder, left shoulder, and bilateral shoulders, resulting in a 23% permanent disability rating. The WCAB denied the applicant's petition for reconsideration, upholding the WCJ's decision to rate the permanent disability under the 2005 Schedule instead of the 1997 Schedule. This decision aligns with the appellate court's interpretation in *Vera v. Workers' Comp. Appeals Bd.* regarding when a report indicates permanent disability.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardPetition for ReconsiderationFindings and AwardMaintenance WorkerIndustrial InjuryRight ShoulderLeft ShoulderBilateral ShouldersCumulative InjuryPermanent Disability
References
Case No. ADJ9176582
Regular
Feb 21, 2020

MARIA MORENO vs. GARROUTTE FARMS, ZENITH INSURANCE COMPANY

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration of a prior award finding applicant sustained industrial injury to her left shoulder, left wrist, left hip, and low back, causing temporary and permanent disability. While the Board denied the defendant's petition regarding the low back injury and temporary disability, it deferred the issue of the permanent disability rating. This deferral includes a potential increase to the whole person impairment for pain, which will be determined at the trial level after further hearing. The Board confirmed an award for additional temporary total disability and further medical treatment.

ADJ9176582Petition for ReconsiderationFindings Award and OrderIndustrial InjuryLeft ShoulderLeft WristLeft HipLow BackTemporary DisabilityPermanent Disability
References
Case No. ADJ8240882; ADJ8240881; ADJ8615401
Regular
Apr 21, 2025

ROBERT S. HAPPENY vs. STATE OF CALIFORNIA, CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE FOR WOMEN

Applicant Robert S. Happeny sustained industrial injuries during his employment as a correctional officer, leading to a finding of permanent and total disability by the WCJ due to his inability for vocational retraining. The WCJ also issued an unapportioned award, concluding that apportionment to nonindustrial factors was not proven. Defendant challenged this decision via a petition for reconsideration, disputing the method of combining disabilities and the reliability of vocational reports. The Appeals Board granted reconsideration, affirming the WCJ's determination of permanent and total disability based on vocational infeasibility and the lack of established apportionment, ultimately rescinding the original decision and substituting new findings of fact.

ADJ8240882ADJ8240881ADJ8615401correctional officerindustrial injuryheartpsycheright wristrespiratory systemlumbar spine
References
Case No. ADJ4393668 (LBO 0387479)
Regular
Feb 10, 2011

Elodia Lopez vs. BCBG MAXAZRIA, ARGONAUT INSURANCE COMPANY

This case involves Elodia Lopez's appeal of a Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) decision regarding her left upper extremity injury. The WCAB granted reconsideration to amend a finding regarding the need for further medical treatment to the applicant's left shoulder, finding her treating physician's opinion better reasoned than the panel QME's. The Board otherwise affirmed the decision but issued a notice of intention to assess sanctions against applicant's counsel for failing to properly cite evidence, violating procedural rules.

Workers Compensation Appeals BoardPetition for ReconsiderationSecond Amended Findings and AwardApplicantDefendantIndustrial InjuryLeft Upper ExtremityTemporary Total DisabilityPermanent DisabilityFurther Medical Treatment
References
Case No. ADJ1479332 (LBO 0371232) ADJ2273080 (LBO 0371234)
Regular
Jul 30, 2009

DINORA GUEVARA vs. BRENTWOOD COUNTRY CLUB, EMPLOYERS COMPENSATION INSURANCE COMPANY

In this workers' compensation case, the applicant sought reconsideration of a decision regarding her left wrist injury. While the applicant did not dispute a finding of no industrial injury to her left upper extremity and shoulder, she contested the $5\%$ permanent disability awarded for her wrist injury. The administrative law judge initially agreed there was an error, suggesting a $4\%$ rating was appropriate, but the Appeals Board found that correcting the permanent disability rating involved a judicial function. Therefore, the Board rescinded the original decision and returned the case to the trial level for further proceedings and a new decision.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardIndustrial InjuryLeft Upper ExtremityLeft ShoulderLeft WristPermanent DisabilityReconsiderationFindings and AwardAdministrative Law JudgeReport and Recommendation
References
Case No. ADJ1904323 (GRO 0034275) ADJ3208896 (GRO 0034276) ADJ649343 (GRO 0034277)
Regular
Nov 01, 2010

SARAH SHIPP vs. GOTTSCHALKS, SPECIALTY RISK SERVICES

The Appeals Board granted reconsideration, rescinding the prior award due to the Workers' Compensation Judge's (WCJ) improper reliance on an Agreed Medical Evaluator's (AME) hernia analogy to rate upper extremity impairment. This analogy violated *Almaraz II* by not adhering to the AMA Guides and potentially incorporating pre-2005 rating schedules. The rater also used an incorrect impairment number and occupational adjustment. The case is remanded for further proceedings and a new decision by the WCJ, ensuring the rating is not based on the flawed hernia analogy.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardSarah ShippGottschalksSpecialty Risk ServicesJoint Findings and Awardindustrial injuryright shoulderleft shoulderright elbowthumb
References
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