July 21, 2020 Californians entered unchartered territory as the world encountered the global spread of COVID-19 in March 2020. Government officials, business owners, and individuals scrambled to implement regulations and develop new ways to conduct business and provide essential services, while still complying with safety and social distancing measures. In the workers’ compensation arena, we have seen changes to Board policies, discovery procedures, medical evaluations and treatment, and expansion of presumptions pertaining to employees infected with COVID-19. As we continue […]
News & Knowledge
Category: Publications
July 21, 2020 In a recent case which is helpful to the defense bar, County of Santa Clara v. WCAB (Justice), the 6th District Court of Appeal limited the scope of the findings in the 2nd District Court’s previous holding in Hikida v. WCAB (2017) 12 Cal. App. 5th 1249. Justice clarified that apportionment to preexisting or non-industrial conditions can still apply to industrial disability where the treatment itself is the source of the disability. To review, Hikida created shockwaves […]
May 6, 2020 Although strongly contested by the California Chamber of Commerce, on May 6, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-62-20 creating a rebuttable presumption of occupational exposure for workers diagnosed with COVID-19. The Executive Order mandates provision of workers compensation benefits under a certain set of criteria and applies to claims retroactive to March 19, 2020. It is effective for the next 60 days (through July 5, 2020). To qualify, the injured worker must meet a four […]
April 21, 2020 It seems every time we celebrate a New Year we are presented with changes in the California’s Workers’ Compensation system. 2020 was no exception, as revisions of California Code of Regulations, Title 8 became effective January 1, 2020. These changes affect sections 10300 to 10999. This regulatory update marks the largest change and reorganization of the rules since they were adopted. The purpose of reworking the organizational structure of the rules, which were originally adopted in 1966, […]
April 21, 2020 The 2020 CAAA Convention took place in Palm Springs, and while we are used to seeing the applicants’ bar come up with creative approaches to increase permanent disability, given that permanent disability can be a primary cost-driver for a claim’s value, it is not surprising that strategies focused on increasing PD were once again a hot topic. One novel idea was focused on a broad reading from the AMA Guides 5th Edition. In giving general examples of […]
March 25, 2020 While the world grapples with the sudden and far-reaching impacts of COVID-19, the effects of its spread have been felt across all businesses and communities. As our government struggles to stem the spread of the disease, we have been forced to adapt to a rapidly changing social and legal landscape, which can lead to uncertainty regarding legal obligations to employees. With more and more employees ordered to stay home from work and shelter in place, unique challenges […]
March 9, 2020 Containing COVID-19: Initial Impressions on Assessing and Mitigating Claims Exposure The growing outbreak of COVID-19 is concerning for not only public health, but also for employers who could soon be faced with an influx of workers’ compensation claims. Allegations of exposure are most likely to arise in sectors of the economy where job duties place employees in close and frequent contact with the public. These “high risk” sectors include health care workers, public safety officers, teachers, those […]
November 12, 2019 Given the high risk and dangers associated with law enforcement and safety occupations, workers’ compensation provides a number of presumptions for certain types of injuries. The statutory presumptions mandate that the injury occurred AOE/COE and thus shifts the burden of proof to the employer that the injury did not occur on the job. These rebuttable presumptions are often difficult to overcome. Only members that are specifically enunciated in each Labor Code Section are entitled to a particular […]
September 20, 2019 The California Legislature passed AB 5 on Wednesday, which will likely have a huge impact on businesses utilizing an independent contractor model in classifying its employees. This bill had already gained national attention from presidential candidates, including Senators Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Kamala Harris. We at Laughlin, Falbo, Levy & Moresi LLP are tackling and getting to know this bill and its potential impact more thoroughly. Here is what we know so far. In April 2018, […]
September 16, 2019 At last, a victory for utilization review and proponents of the sanctity of Saturdays. The WCAB has issued a significant panel decision—and simultaneously providing clarity concerning a previous decision in California Department of Corrections v. WCAB (Gomez)—finding that, for the purposes of utilization review determinations, Saturdays are not “working days” within the meaning of Labor Code Section 4610. With the benefit of “hindsight,” the WCAB found that linking the Civil Code Section 9 definition of “business day” […]