On January 18, 2022, the California Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) announced that updated COVID-19 related emergency regulations for Qualified Medical Evaluations (QMEs) are taking effect. The latest round of emergency regulations are set to last until July 19, 2022—with two separate 90-day extensions possible if deemed necessary. In this article, our Fresno workers’ compensation […]
According to a report from Insurance Journal, two California business owners—a married couple named Wei Wen Wu, and Feng Wen Lam—are facing dozens of counts of workers’ compensation fraud. Authorities allege that the business owner couple defrauded private insurance companies and the California state fund out of nearly $1.7 million by underreporting payroll for more […]
On January 26, 2022, the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) published an official news release reminding employers in the state of their duty to post a legally-compliant annual summary of work-related injuries and illnesses. Here, our California workers’ compensation defense attorneys explain the key things employers should know about their duty to post an […]
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 […]
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 […]
