The California Division of Workers’ Compensation is clear: An employee has the right to file for workers’ compensation benefits for a psychiatric injury. For the purposes of California workers’ compensation claim, the term ‘psychiatric injury’ is used broadly—it covers a wide range of mental health related issues, including depression, anxiety, and inability to sleep. California […]
Author Archives: Joseph Yrulegui
According to a report from the Insurance Journal, a farm labor contractor from San Joaquin County, California is facing 15 felony criminal charges related to his role in a complex workers’ compensation fraud scheme. The 62-year-old Alfredo Casas allegedly underreported his company’s payroll by more than $1 million—thereby causing major losses for private insurance companies […]
According to a report from Business Insurance, so-called “frictional” workers’ compensation costs are down in 2021—but they still remain high in California. In fact, the frictional costs of the workers’ compensation system in California is nearly twice as high as the national average. Here, our Fresno workers’ compensation defense attorneys highlight the key things to […]
Businesses and non-profit organizations are required to provide workers’ compensation insurance coverage for their employees. Through a workers’ compensation claim in California, an employee can seek benefits for job-related injuries. As noted by the state’s Division of Workers’ Compensation, “psychiatric injuries are compensable under California Law,” However, under Labor Code Section 4660.1, a worker with […]
Workers’ compensation is complicated. Most years bring some modest (or sometimes major) legal and legislative changes. Employers, claims administrators, and insurance companies should all understand their responsibilities under California law. In this blog post, our Fresno workers’ compensation defense attorneys highlight four key things to know about workers’ compensation laws and regulations for 2022. Average […]
On October 25, 2021, the California Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) officially announced that the minimum temporary disability benefit and the maximum temporary disability benefit are rising in 2022. The changes this year are especially significant—a more than 13% jump—given the steep rise in average weekly earnings among workers in California in the previous year. […]
According to a report from The Mercury News, a former California sheriff’s reserves leader has been charged as part of an investigation into a $17 million workers’ compensation fraud case. If the allegations are proven true, the alleged workers’ compensation fraud represents the single largest ever reported in Orange County and the second largest reported […]
On October 15, 2021, Dr. Amir Friedman was sentenced to 14 months in federal prison for his role in a massive workers’ compensation fraud scheme. Mr. Friedman was the owner and operator of New Age Pharmaceuticals Inc., a medical practice based in Beverly Hills, California. Federal prosecutors cited Mr. Friedman, his company, and more than […]
According to a report from Insurance Business Magazine, an Orange County, CA woman is facing criminal charges for workers’ compensation fraud and being an uninsured employer. She allegedly defrauded employers out of $1.4 million in workers’ compensation premiums while acting as an unlicensed insurance agent. In this blog post, our Fresno workers’ compensation defense attorney […]
In California, a person injured on the job is generally entitled to no-fault benefits through a workers’ compensation claim. Disputes can sometimes arise over the existence, nature or severity of an employee’s injuries. California’s QME (Qualified Medical Evaluator) process exists to allow an independent medical professional to come in and make an assessment. Once a […]