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

Case No. ADJ8300983
Regular
Apr 28, 2014

ALBERTO CHICO vs. ONEMOR, INC., dba McDONALD'S, CALIFORNIA RESTAURANT MUTUAL BENEFIT CORP.

The Appeals Board denied reconsideration for the Jacobs-represented lien claimants, upholding the disallowance of their liens due to a failure to prove industrial injury and insufficient evidence. However, the Board granted reconsideration for the Kauffman-represented lien claimants, rescinding the sanctions previously imposed. While agreeing that the Kauffman claimants also failed to prove injury, the Board found their conduct did not rise to the level of bad faith or frivolous tactics required for sanctions.

WCABlien claimantspetition for reconsiderationFindings and OrderOrder Overruling Objection and Imposing Sanctionsindustrial injuryprobative evidencesanctionsbad-faith actionsfrivolous
References
9
Case No. ADJ8094646
Regular
Jan 17, 2014

ALEJANDRINA BARRETO vs. OUT OF THE SHELL, SOUTHERN INSURANCE COMPANY, REPUBLIC INDEMNITY COMPANY, PHARMAFINANCE, LLC, HEALTHCARE FINANCE MANAGEMENT, LLC

This case involves lien claimants PharmaFinance and Healthcare Finance Management, and their representatives Landmark Medical Management and Brian Hall, who sought reconsideration of a decision disallowing their liens for medical treatment. The Appeals Board granted reconsideration solely to notice its intention to impose sanctions of up to $2,500 against the lien claimants and their representatives. This action is due to a pattern of allegedly filing petitions containing false statements about not receiving notices, which violates the Board's Rules of Practice and Procedure and Labor Code Section 5813. The Board found these claims not persuasive and indicative of a tactic to avoid responsibility.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardPetition for ReconsiderationSanctionsLien ClaimantsHearing RepresentativesIndustrial InjuryFindings and OrderCompromise and ReleaseNotice of IntentionLabor Code section 5813
References
0
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Stair v. Calhoun

Plaintiffs' counsel, Ballon Stoll Bader & Nadler, P.C., moved to withdraw from representing plaintiffs and sought a charging and retaining lien due to plaintiff Theodore Stair's substantial unpaid legal fees. Stair opposed the withdrawal, citing a pending settlement. The court granted counsel's motion to withdraw, finding Stair's prolonged failure to pay constituted deliberate disregard of his financial obligations. The court also granted a charging lien for $37,546.87, representing adjusted reasonable hours and expenses, but denied the motion for a retaining lien to prevent prejudice to the ongoing litigation and due to Stair's alleged indigence.

Withdrawal of CounselCharging LienRetaining LienUnpaid Legal FeesAttorney-Client RelationshipDeliberate DisregardQuantum MeruitShareholder DilutionMotion PracticeFee Dispute
References
86
Case No. ADJ3193987 (RIV 0037219)
Regular
Feb 26, 2009

DOUGLAS CRAWFORD vs. COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO FIRE DEPARTMENT, COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO

This case involves a lien claimant, Forensic Psychiatric Services, whose lien was initially slated for disallowance due to an unprepared representative at a conference. The lien claimant petitioned for the Workers' Compensation Administrative Law Judge's (WCJ) disqualification, alleging bias and an unwarranted opinion. The Appeals Board denied the disqualification petition, finding insufficient grounds. However, they granted the lien claimant's objection to the disallowance notice, rescinded it, and returned the matter to the trial level for further proceedings.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardForensic Psychiatric ServicesPetition for DisqualificationNotice of Intention to Disallow Lien ClaimWorkers' Compensation Administrative Law Judgeunprepared lien representativeunqualified opinionevinced enmityWCAB Rule 10452objection to NOI
References
0
Case No. ADJ7930045
Regular
Jan 17, 2014

MICHAEL NGUYEN vs. WILLIAMS FURNACE, TRAVELERS INSURANCE COMPANY

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration, rescinded dismissal orders for lien activation fee non-payment, and is considering sanctions up to $2,500 against lien claimants and their representatives. This action stems from the lien claimants' claim of not receiving notice of a lien conference, which the Board found to be a false statement of material fact, despite evidence of proper service. The Board will proceed in conformity with a preliminary injunction against lien activation fee enforcement.

Lien activation feePetition for reconsiderationSanctionsFalse statements of factRule 10561Labor Code section 5813Hearing representativesEAMSPreliminary injunctionAngelotti Chiropractic
References
1
Case No. ADJ3034844 (LBO 0392601) ADJ 4614655 (LBO 0396565)
Regular
Oct 17, 2014

ANGEL AVILA vs. PHILIPPS SERVICES CORPORATION, CIGA, SEDGWICK CMS, RELIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) granted reconsideration of orders dismissing lien claims from several medical providers. These lien claimants argued the dismissal was erroneous because they had not abandoned their liens and deserved a continued hearing to identify witnesses. The WCAB found the Petition for Reconsideration timely and determined that lien claimants may have been denied due process if their representative left the hearing prematurely without adequate notice. Therefore, the WCAB is providing an opportunity for lien claimants to demonstrate good cause why the dismissal orders should not be affirmed, and ordering the defendant to respond to any filings.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardPetition for ReconsiderationLien ClaimsWCJDismissal of LiensMedical Lien ManagementRepresentative AbandonmentPrima Facie ShowingDue ProcessNotice of Intention to Dismiss
References
0
Case No. ADJ9307293
Regular
Jan 08, 2016

JUAN GARCIA vs. CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied the CCPOA Benefit Trust Fund's petition for reconsideration. The lien claimant sought penalties, alleging bad faith because the defendant sent an award payment directly to the lien claimant instead of its hearing representative. The Board found no evidence of unreasonable delay, noting the payment was timely sent to the address on file and promptly cashed by the lien claimant, constituting substantial compliance. The Board also suggested the lien claimant's multiple claims and penalty requests, despite timely payment, could constitute bad faith.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardLien ClaimantPetition for ReconsiderationBad Faith ActionsHearing RepresentativeSubstantial ComplianceSanctionsLabor Code Section 5700Legal Services BureauCCPOA Benefit Trust Fund
References
2
Case No. ADJ7564894
Regular
Jun 07, 2013

FLOR DE MARIA DE LEON vs. PORTO'S BAKERY, INC, TRAVELERS

Here's a summary for a lawyer: This case involves a lien claimant, First Choice Health UBC, whose lien was dismissed for failure to provide proof of timely payment of the lien activation fee at a lien conference. While the claimant's representative appeared for "FCH" and later submitted proof of payment for a different, similarly named entity (First Choice Medical Group), no proof was provided for First Choice Health UBC itself. The WCJ recommended denial of reconsideration, finding that the claimant failed to meet the requirements of Labor Code section 4903.06(a)(4) by not presenting evidence of activation fee payment for the correct entity at the conference, thus warranting dismissal with prejudice. The Appeals Board adopted the WCJ's report and denied the petition.

Lien ClaimantActivation FeePetition for ReconsiderationDismissal with PrejudiceContinuous TraumaServerBack InjuryKnee InjuryLower ExtremitiesNervous/Psyche
References
0
Case No. ADJ2303350 (FRE 0230817)
Regular
Apr 05, 2013

Benjamin Martinez vs. Boghossian Raisin Packing, State Compensation Insurance Fund

Lien claimants sought reconsideration of notices to dismiss their liens, but the Appeals Board dismissed their petition as interlocutory orders are not subject to reconsideration. The Board granted removal on its own motion and intends to sanction the lien claimants' representative, AMR Group, and the lien claimants themselves (Hooty Services and Accutox) for frivolous and bad-faith actions. This intent to sanction stems from their attempt to challenge a procedural order clearly permitted by Appeals Board rules.

Workers Compensation Appeals BoardPetition for ReconsiderationLien ClaimantsNotice of IntentionDismissalRemovalSanctionsLabor CodeFinal OrderInterlocutory Decisions
References
7
Case No. ADJ3871531 (MON 0360998)
Regular
Jun 14, 2013

ALBA CORTEZ vs. FACILITIES SUPPORT SERVICES, INC., COMPWEST INSURANCE CO.

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board affirmed the dismissal of a lien claim filed by Wilshire Union Chiro Medical Group. The lien was dismissed because the claimant's representative failed to appear at a scheduled lien conference. While the claimant argued the absence was due to a representative's medical emergency, the Board found insufficient explanation for not sending another representative or notifying the court. Consequently, the Board imposed a $200 joint and several sanction on the lien claimant and its representative, Raul Mejia, for their failure to prosecute the lien and frivolous conduct.

Workers Compensation Appeals BoardLien ClaimantReconsiderationSanctionLien ConferenceFailure to AppearWCJDeclarations of Readiness to ProceedObjectionDismissal
References
0
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