Author Archives: Joseph Yrulegui

AN OVERVIEW OF EMPLOYER OPTIONS FOR OFFERING AN INJURED WORKER A POSITION UPON RETURNING TO WORK

Was your employee hurt while on the job? They have the right to file for workers’ compensation benefits and to take time off to recover from their injuries. Once they are ready to do so, they can return to work. There are specific rules and regulations that employers in California must follow when a worker […]

DID YOUR COMPANY RECEIVE A SPECIAL NOTICE OF LAWSUIT (SNOL)? FOUR THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

The Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) explains that all employers in California “are required by law to have workers’ compensation insurance, even if they have only one employee.” A workers’ compensation claim is generally the sole remedy that an injured worker has against their own employer for a work-related accident. However, if an employer fails […]

CALIFORNIA APPEALS COURT: WORKERS’ COMPENSATION EXCLUSIVE REMEDY AGAINST EMPLOYER FOR FAMILY OF WORKER KILLED AT GROCERY STORE

According to a report from Business Insurance, an appellate court in California ruled that a workers’ compensation claim is the exclusive remedy available against the employer to the family members of a man who was killed on the job at a grocery store (Jimenez et al. v. Mrs. Gooch’s Natural Food Markets, Inc). The family […]

ANALYSIS: CALIFORNIA WORKERS’ COMPENSATION LOSSES PAID OUT INCREASED FOLLOWING SENATE BILL 863

According to a report from the Insurance Journal, the total amount of workers’ compensation losses paid has gradually increased over the past decade. Notably, this comes after the passing of Senate Bill 863 (SB 863), which reformed the handling of medical treatment disputes in workers’ compensation claims in California. SB 863 was signed into law […]

FOUR PROBLEMS THAT UNINSURED EMPLOYERS IN CALIFORNIA MAY DEAL WITH AFTER A WORKPLACE ACCIDENT

The Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) explains that all employers in California are legally required to purchase no-fault workers’ compensation coverage. Should they fail to do so, they are an improperly uninsured employer. Employers that are uninsured can face major problems if one of their workers is hurt on the job. Here, our Sacramento workers’ […]

DO EMPLOYERS IN CALIFORNIA HAVE THE RIGHT TO DENY A WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CLAIM FOR LATE NOTICE?

California law requires all companies and organizations that have employees within the state to obtain the appropriate no-fault workers’ compensation insurance coverage. California workers’ compensation laws put legal responsibilities on both employers and employees. What happens if an employee is late to report their work injury? It could be a good cause to deny their […]

CALIFORNIA WORKERS’ COMPENSATION: CLEARING UP THREE COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE DUTY-BELT PRESUMPTION

As a general rule, injured workers in California can obtain workers’ compensation benefits if they can prove that their injury occurred within the course and scope of their employment. The “duty-belt” presumption is a specialized provision that flips the burden of proof in certain workers’ compensation claims involving first responders. Under California Labor Code § […]

WHAT EVIDENCE CAN CALIFORNIA EMPLOYERS USE TO DEFEND A SERIOUS AND WILLFUL MISCONDUCT CLAIM?

Following a job-related injury, a workers’ compensation claim is generally the sole legal remedy that an employee has against their own employer. However, in California, there is the big exception of the accident caused by “serious and willful” misconduct on the part of the employer. Under California Labor Code § 4553, an injured worker can […]

CAN YOU FIRE AN EMPLOYEE FOR MAKING A FALSE WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CLAIM IN CALIFORNIA?

Employers in California are legally required to provide no-fault workers’ compensation insurance coverage for their staff. When someone is hurt on the job, they have the right to file for workers’ compensation benefits without fear of facing retribution. This raises an important question: What rights do employers have when an employee files a fraudulent workers’ […]

CALIFORNIA WORKERS’ COMPENSATION DEFENSE: PETITIONING FOR CREDIT OF AN OVERPAYMENT

What happens if an employer or insurer overpays workers’ compensation benefits in California? It is something that can happen for a wide range of different reasons. The short answer is that California has a process in place that allows parties to petition for credit of an overpayment. Here, our Fresno workers’ compensation defense law firm […]