Imagine that you fired or laid off an employee. A few months later, you receive notice that the former employee has filed a workers’ compensation claim. Can they really do that? The short answer is ‘yes’—and it happens far more often than most people realize. At the same time, not all claims filed after termination […]
Under California Labor Code Section 4800, certain frontline workers—including police officers, firefighters, and other public safety personnel—are entitled to additional legal protection in the event that they suffer a job-related injury. Referred both as “Labor Code Section 4850 benefits” and “Labor Code Section 4850 Time,” this special provision allows qualifying employees to receive their full […]
Every seasoned workers’ compensation attorney knows that the specialty of the Panel Qualified Medical Evaluator has a significant impact on a claim. Once an applicant’s claim requires the use of a medical-legal evaluator, certain rules must be followed. In order to initiate the medical evaluation process, we must first look to see if the applicant […]
In California, workers are entitled to ‘no-fault’ benefits for job-related injuries. In filing a workers’ compensation claim, it is generally an employee’s responsibility to prove that their injuries are connected to their employment. However, in limited circumstances, California law shifts the burden of proof in the other direction—ruling that certain injuries for certain workers are […]
According to a report from the Insurance Journal, two California truck company owners, Hardip Singh and Amandeep Kaur, have been charged as part of a workers’ compensation insurance fraud scheme. The business partners owned and operated a Sacramento-based trucking company called Trust Transport, Inc. They are alleged to have systematically underreported payroll. By doing so, […]
Workers’ compensation insurance provides medical coverage and wage loss benefits to employees who were hurt on the job. As emphasized by the California Department of Industrial Relations, “employers are required by law to have workers’ compensation insurance.” For employers and insurers, navigating the workers’ compensation claims process can be complicated. It is not uncommon to […]
A workers’ compensation claim is typically the exclusive remedy that an injured employee has against an employer. However, California Labor Code § 4553 provides an exception in cases of ‘serious and willful misconduct’ (S&W) by an employer. The general rule is that an employee’s total workers’ compensation award may be increased by as much as […]
California has strict rules and procedures in place for workers’ compensation disputes. At a workers’ compensation trial, a judge has the authority to develop the record. You may be wondering: What does it mean to develop the record in a workers’ compensation case? The short answer is that it means the judge is seeking additional […]
Through a serious and willful misconduct claim, an injured worker may be entitled to recover penalty damages from their employer, valued up to 50% of the value of the underlying workers’ compensation claim. For employers, a finding of serious and willful misconduct carries harsh sanctions. There is considerable confusion regarding how exactly serious and willful […]
The party responsible for paying work injury benefits is not always clear-cut —particularly if the claimant sustained their disability over multiple incidents. California created the Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund (SIBTF) to encourage companies to hire workers who have pre-existing injuries and to ensure that disabled workers have access to the financial support they need. […]
