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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 The WCAB rescinded the decision and returned the case to the trial level, finding the medical opinions of Dr.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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. ADJ10403328
Regular
Jun 18, 2019

MAURILIO GONZALEZ vs. LKQ CORPORATION DBA PART; ACE AMERICAN INSURANCE, DEPARTMENT

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration and rescinded the prior finding denying applicant's claim for a respiratory injury. The Board found the Qualified Medical Evaluator's opinion insufficient to establish lack of causation, as it failed to adequately address applicant's work exposures to fumes and dust from dismantling vehicles. The Board remanded the case for further development of the record regarding the extent of applicant's occupational exposures, particularly when not provided a mask. Fraud allegations regarding the defendant's delay in medical authorization were not addressed as they were not properly raised in the trial record.

Cumulative traumaRespiratory systemIndustrial injuryCatalytic convertersToxic fumesOccupational exposuresSubstantial medical evidenceQME opinionFraudulent delayCausation
References
Case No. ADJ7857198
Regular
Jan 28, 2019

RANULFO CRUZ, (Deceased) vs. HALL MANAGEMENT CORPORATION, EVEREST NATIONAL INSURANCE, administered by AMERICAN CLAIMS MANAGEMENT, and COMPANION PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied reconsideration of a decision awarding benefits to the estate of Ranulfo Cruz, a deceased farm laborer. The applicant's death was attributed to Coccidiomycosis (Valley Fever) and meningitis, contracted through exposure during his employment. The WCAB adopted the findings of the administrative law judge, who relied heavily on the medical opinion of Dr. Noriega, the panel QME. Dr. Noriega opined that the decedent's occupational duties, involving soil disruption in an endemic region, presented a statistically greater risk of exposure than non-work activities, establishing industrial causation.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardRanulfo CruzHall Management CorporationEverest National InsuranceCompanion Property and Casualty InsuranceADJ7857198Petition for ReconsiderationDeniedWCJ reportsubstantial evidence
References
Case No. ADJ656416 (RIV 0030336)
Regular
Oct 18, 2011

JOHN CAVEY vs. SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT, CNA CLAIMPLUS, INC., PIPE JACKING, INC., STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND, CAST & CREW PAYROLL, CNA CLAIMPLUS, PARAMOUNT PICTURES, ST PAUL/TRAVELERS INSURANCE, et al.

This case concerns reconsideration petitions filed by Paramount Pictures and State Compensation Insurance Fund (SCIF) regarding an arbitrator's award of the date of injury for workers' compensation purposes. Paramount's petition is dismissed as untimely filed. SCIF's petition, arguing against the September 1999 last date of injurious exposure based on medical evidence, is denied for the reasons stated in the arbitrator's report. The Board adopted the arbitrator's findings and incorporated the report into their decision.

Labor Code section 5412Labor Code $\S$5500.5date of injuryinjurious exposureapportionmentcontributionpetition for reconsiderationuntimely petitionWorkers' Compensation Appeals BoardAward of Arbitrator
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
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