What’s New at the WCAB

Emergency Directives in Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic

Since March 16, 2020, the Division of Workers’ Compensation and the WCAB have issued a series of emergency decisions and directives, including two En Banc rulings of the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, addressing numerous urgent matters that have arisen in the wake of the global Coronavirus pandemic, ranging from calendaring of hearings to electronic service by the WCAB.  As a quick reference for our section members, we set forth the links to the WCAB En Banc decisions and the Newsline releases from the DWC in chronological order of their issuance:

• DWC and WCAB Announce Modified Hearing Calendar & Filing Update (March 16, 2020)
  https://www.dir.ca.gov/DIRNews/2020/2020-18.html
• DWC Temporarily Closing San Jose, Oakland, San Francisco Offices (March 17, 2020)
  https://www.dir.ca.gov/DIRNews/2020/2020-19.html
• WCAB Issues En Banc Order Regarding Rules, Office Closure During COVID-19 Emergency (March 18, 2020)
  https://www.dir.ca.gov/DIRNews/2020/2020-20.html
• In Re COVID-19 State of Emergency (En Banc Decision of the WCAB)(March 18, 2020)
  https://www.dir.ca.gov/WCAB/EnBancdecisions2020/COVID-19.pdf
• DWC Provides Guidance on Medical Evaluations During State of Emergency Period (March 19, 2020)
  https://www.dir.ca.gov/DIRNews/2020/2020-21.html
• All DWC Offices Open Except for Eureka, with Bakersfield Scheduled to Reopen on March 26 (March 24, 2020)
  https://www.dir.ca.gov/DIRNews/2020/2020-23.html
• DWC Issues Emergency Measures for Medical-Legal Evaluations during Governor Newsom’s Stay-at-home Order (March 28, 2020)
  https://www.dir.ca.gov/DIRNews/2020/2020-26.html
• DWC and WCAB Announce Updated Hearing and Filing Procedures (April 3, 2020)
  https://www.dir.ca.gov/DIRNews/2020/2020-29.html
• In Re COVID-19 State of Emergency (En Banc Decision of the WCAB-No. 2)(April 6, 2020)
  https://www.dir.ca.gov/wcab/EnBancdecisions2020/COVID-19-April2020.pdf