Workers’ Comp eNews

If you’re involved in the California workers’ comp system as an injured worker, labor advocate or employer, you likely have strong opinions about the fairness and adequacy of the system. But clearly workers’ comp remains a backwater issue for politicians and the public. In the last few years California has seen a property insurance crisis, rising costs for gas, housing, auto insurance, utility bills and food, higher unemployment than most states, and increased concern about crime. Read more

When you see a Mandatory Settlement Conference (MSC) on your calendar in the next few weeks, we generally set a little mental note that says “Oh yeah, I need to get ready for that hearing.” But this touches on the large questions of what does this mean, what do you HAVE to do before an MSC, and what SHOULD you do before an MSC? The best advice is advice we have all heard for many, many years: don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today. Read more

The Practice and Ethics Subcommittee of the Workers’ Compensation Section is on a continuing quest to improve the levels of professionalism and competence for all practicing before the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board.  This year, the Practice and Ethics Subcommittee is chaired by Rodman Martin, San Ramon and the vice chairperson is John Parente, San Francisco.   Please feel free to contact the Workers’ Compensation Section with suggestions or practice issues at workerscomp@calawyers.org. Read more

The start of the new year is often a hopeful time; where we greet each other and wish a year full of good health, happiness and prosperity.  Unfortunately, for thousands of our fellow Californians in the Los Angeles area, 2025 could not have started in a more disastrous way.   We have all been devastated to see the images of block after block of neighborhoods in the Pacific Palisades and the Altadena area being decimated by unimaginable infernos fueled by unprecedented hurricane force winds.  The members of the California Lawyers Association Workers’ Compensation Executive Committee mourn the loss of so many lives to the wildfires and share in the grief of all those who have lost their homes Read more

One factor that can delay a workers’ compensation claim is when a QME moves offices or changes med-legal services, and doesn’t tell the parties. This can and has literally added months to a claim. Read more

On July 25, 2024, the California Supreme Court issued its decision in Castellanos v. State of California, which upheld the constitutionality of Proposition 22. The reader may recall, perhaps from the massive advertising campaign in 2020, that Proposition 22 was designed to remove “gig” workers from the workers’ compensation system and declare them independent contractors. Read more

On September 22, 2024, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law, California State Assembly Bill 2337 which amends California Labor Code sections 17 and 5003 to allow for electronic signatures throughout all workers’ compensation proceedings.  Read more

Queen Mary, Long Beach, CA Clifford D. Sweet, III receives the Workers’ Compensation Section Lifetime Achievement Award for 2024 at the regal Queen Mary in Long Beach on September 28, 2024. The Honorable Judge Simon Hovakimian of the Long Beach District Office of the WCAB entertained the audience with a humorous speech as he accepted the 2024 Judge of the Year Award at the CLA Workers’ Compensation Section Annual Awards Dinner and Celebration aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach.… Read more

Interviewed by The Honorable Judge Therese DaSilva of the Oakland District Office of the WCAB Read more

Welcome to this edition of the Enews.  It is one of the great honors of my career to have been elected by my colleagues as the new Chair of The California Lawyers Association Workers’ Compensation Section Executive Committee.  Read more