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. […]
There are multiple areas in our profession where the Code of Civil Procedure and the workers’ compensation rules do not fall in line with each other. One of these areas is regarding the all-important Proof of Service. There are times when opposing counsel may file a Petition for Penalties due to an alleged non-payment of […]
In California, businesses and organizations are required to provide no-fault workers’ compensation coverage to their employees. When someone gets hurt on the job, they can claim benefits. While workers’ compensation is usually the sole and exclusive remedy that an employee has against an employer, an injured worker may file a lawsuit directly against a negligent […]
Under California workers’ compensation laws, there are two broad categories of work injuries — specific injuries and cumulative trauma. A specific injury occurs in a single event, in which an employee is hurt at a specific place and time. In contrast, cumulative trauma injuries develop gradually over time. They occur as the collective consequence of […]
In recent years, businesses and organizations are increasingly relying on the contributions of gig workers and independent contractors. In the fall of 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom signed California Assembly Bill 5 (AB 5) into law; the bill restricts an employer’s ability to classify a worker as an independent contractor. There are strict rules that must […]
Since 1937 there have been presumptions that specific types of injuries to listed public safety employees are industrial. Starting in 1937 heart trouble suffered by certain firefighting employees has been presumed industrial. The categories of employees and the different diagnosis that qualify for presumptions have expanded since then. One of the most recent presumptions added […]
The pandemic continues to affect our region. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) reports that 831,225 cases of the COVID-19 virus have been confirmed in the state as of October 7, 2020. To help address the ongoing public health crisis, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1159 into law last month. The bill […]
In order to provide our clients with the best possible and most up-to-date laws affecting workers’ compensation defense, the topic of the hour, or more appropriately deemed, the year, requires another update based on codification of Governor Gavin Newsom’s Executive Order of N-62-60 into law. Senate Bill 1159 enacts the COVID-19 presumption, signed into law […]
Workers’ compensation insurance provides no-fault benefits to people who were injured while on the job. An employer can be held responsible for a workplace injury even if the accident was not their fault. That being said, liability is not automatic. There are several affirmative defenses that employers and insurers can raise to deny coverage. An […]
An employer, administrator, or insurance company may want to settle a workers’ compensation claim. Before reaching an agreement, it is important to know the difference between the two main types of workers’ compensation settlement options. These options are a Compromise and Release (C&R) and a Stipulation. Here, our Fresno workers’ compensation defense lawyers explain the […]
