WORKERS’ COMPENSATION FRAUD CHARGES DROPPED AGAINST THREE PEOPLE AT THE LAST MINUTE

According to a report from the Sacramento Bee, a court has decided to drop workers’ compensation fraud charges against three individuals who were collectively accused of defrauding the system out of more than $125,000.00 in workers’ compensation premiums. A last-minute piece of key evidence regarding intent changed the situation. The criminal workers’ compensation fraud trial […]

HOME HEALTH CARE PLACEMENT AGENCIES IN CALIFORNIA CITED FOR MISCLASSIFYING WORKERS

On September 28, 2022, the State of California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) announced citations against home health care placement agencies for misclassifying workers. Altogether, the employers will be required to pay more than $1.8 million in financial penalties. More than five dozen workers were affected by the misclassification. The improper classification of employees is […]

WCAB: DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION CLAIM A SEPARATE ACTION FROM WORKERS’ COMPENSATION DISCRIMINATION CLAIM

According to a report from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the California Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) has ruled that a workers’ compensation discrimination claim under Labor Code Section 132(a) is a wholly separate legal action from a disability discrimination claim under FEHA, Fair Employment and Housing Act. A worker who had her […]

A BRIEF GUIDE TO THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CLAIMS IN CALIFORNIA

In California, employees are entitled to receive no-fault workers’ compensation insurance coverage from their employer. If an employee is hurt on the job, he/she has the right to file for workers’ compensation benefits regardless of how and why the accident occurred. However, they do not have an unlimited amount of time to bring the case. […]

CALIFORNIA LAW BARS INJURED EMPLOYEE FROM FILING PERSONAL INJURY LAWSUIT AGAINST CONTRACTOR

According to a report from Business Insurance, a California appellate court has ruled in favor of a private company—finding that the state’s exclusive remedy presumption for workers’ compensation insurance prohibits the employee from filing a personal injury claim against that contractor. Here, our Sacramento workers’ compensation defense lawyer offers a more detailed account of the […]

CALIFORNIA EMPLOYER LOCKED IN WORKERS’ COMPENSATION DISPUTE OVER WHETHER MEDICAL SERVICES WERE “REASONABLE AND NECESSARY”

According to a report from Human Resources Director California, Central Concrete Supply Company—a contractor based in San Jose, CA—is challenging an employee’s workers’ compensation claim on the grounds that services were received that were not “reasonable and necessary.” In this article, our Bakersfield workers’ compensation defense attorney provides a more detailed account of the dispute […]

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PHYSICIAN PLEADS GUILTY IN WORKERS’ COMPENSATION FRAUD CASE—ACCEPTED ILLEGAL KICKBACKS

According to a report from the Del Mar Times, a Southern California surgeon has pled guilty to taking illegal kickbacks and defrauding the state’s workers’ compensation claims system. Lokesh S. Tantuwaya, 55 of San Diego, allegedly accepted more than $3 million in bribes as part of a more complex healthcare fraud scheme. In this blog […]

DEFENDING A WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CLAIM ON THE GROUNDS OF “INTENTIONALLY SELF-INFLICTED” INJURY

As stated straightforwardly by the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), all employers in the state must comply with the statutory mandate to provide workers with no-fault workers’ compensation coverage. California workers’ compensation allows injured employees to recover benefits regardless of fault—but there is a strict exception for intentional or self-inflicted injuries. Here, our Salinas […]

WCAB RULES THAT IDL PAYMENTS CAN BE COUNTED AS PART OF “WORKERS’ COMPENSATION” IN SERIOUS AND WILLFUL MISCONDUCT CASE

Earlier this year, the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) issued an instructive decision in the case of Ayala v. Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation/Lancaster State Prison. The Board found that it has the authority to increase IDL payments by 50% on the grounds of an employer’s serious and willful misconduct. Here, our Fresno workers’ compensation […]

YELLOWSTONE ACTRESS CHARGED WITH FELONY WORKERS’ COMPENSATION FRAUD IN CALIFORNIA

On July 11, 2022, the California Department of Insurance announced that Q’Orianka Kilcher—a 32-year-old North Hollywood, CA actress famous for her role on the hit TV show ‘Yellowstone’—has been charged with two felony counts of workers’ compensation fraud. Authors contend that Ms. Kilcher collected more than $90,000.00 of workers’ compensation disability benefits that were not […]