Featured Faculty

Amanda A. Manukian has been with the Law Office of Floyd, Skeren & Kelly, LLP since 2003. She is currently the Managing Attorney of the Pasadena Office and the Managing Attorney of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU). She also served as the Fraud Liaison with State Compensation in 2002 and part of 2003. Prior to her time with State Compensation Insurance Fund (SCIF), she worked with the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office from 1998 to 2002. She started as a law clerk in the Appeals and Writs Division, SIU working on numerous Appellate Briefs before California Appellate Courts. Subsequent to that, she was a certified senior law clerk conducting preliminary Hearings and co-chairing misdemeanor Trails at Central Trial in Downtown Los Angeles. Over the last two years of her tenure with the District Attorney's Office, she co-chaired in death penalty evidentiary Hearings and assisted with appellate work defending various fraud convictions.

WC Calculators

Wanda Ogilvie v. City and County of San Francisco, (2009) 74 Cal. Comp. Cases 248 (February 3, 2009) has established a method by which the DFEC Table contained in the 2005 Schedule for Rating Permanent Disabilities can be rebutted. We have created an online calculator to help you calculate the DFEC in situations that trigger a rebuttal to the DFEC table in the PDRS.

Sponsors

Our School

Please visit our online school.

The WorkCompAcademy is a full featured online learning experience. Our faculty includes the leading practitioners in the California Workers' Compensation Community. Our online curriculum covers all aspects of Workers' Compensation Claims, from basic concepts to advanced topics of value to experienced practitioners such as senior claims exectives, attorneys, and Qualified Medical Evaluators. Students can access classes any time, from any internet connected computer. Courses can be completed at an individualized pace.

WorkCompAcademy Weekly News

March 8, 2010 Edition - Rene Thomas Folse

Editions

Weekly Edition Topics

March 8 Edition Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories. Employers Holdings Reports Full Year Income Decline. Injuries Among Public Sector Employees Increased for the First Time in Five Years. CIGA Prevails Against City of Laguna Beach in Reimbursement Case. Calif. Construction Company Sued for Misclassifying, Underpaying Workers. DWC Proposed Changes to MPN and Employee Information Regulations. CWCI Scorecard Examines Restaurant Claims in the California Workers' Comp System. Talk Therapy Reduces Back Pain? Contractor Guilty of Workers' Comp Fraud. Court Orders End to Furloughs for DWC, WCAB and Other State Workers. AIG Pumps $2.3 Billion Into "Long-Tail" Loss Reserves.
March 1 Edition Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories. The Court of Appeal, Sixth Appellate District Grants Writ in Guzman Case. Couurt of Appeal Confirms WCAB Position on SSSOP. Court of Appeal Reviews Requirements for Independent Contractor Status. SCIF Prevails in Claim for Premiums Against Employer in Court of Appeal. Investor Lawsuit Filed Against Zenith National Insurance Corp. Board. DWC Posts Proposed Amendments to Benefit Notice Regulations and Opens Discussion Forum. U.S. Study - Newer Heart CTs Deliver Far Less Radiation. Former Calif Prison Guard to Pay More Restitution. Premier Medical Owners Plead No Contest - Waive $60 Million in Liens. CMS Delays Medicare Reporting Requirement - Again.
February 22 Edition Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories. Fairfax To Pay $1.3 Billion to Purchase Zenith National Insurance. U.S. Crack Down on Independent Contractors May Help Stop Comp Cheats. No Contest Plea from Commerce Man in Workers' Comp Fraud Case. Woman Gets Three Years for Workers Comp Fraud, New Members Appointed to Fraud Assessment Commission. Occupation a Key Factor in Men's Lung Cancer Risk. Spine Stimulation May Not Help After Failed Surgery. California Comp Politics Becomes Focus of Attention. One Million Document Batches Successfully Processed Into EAMS. First State Fund "Sale" Getting Close in Colorado.
February 15 Edition John B. Floyd Esq. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories. CMS Gets Tough in Six Year Old - Settled Tort Class Action. Illegally Uninsured Employer Prevails in Court of Appeal. OC Couple to Be Trading Their Pradas for Prison Garb. Broker Accused of $4 Million Pechanga Casino Insurance Embezzlement. Man sentenced in Marina payroll case. StrataCare, Disney and Others Implement EOB Program. DWC Attempts to "Uncork" EAMS Filing Bottleneck. Investor Class Action Filed Against CRM Holdings. Some Cash-Strapped States Raiding Workers Comp Funds. Home Improvement Self-Insured Group Announces Record Growth.
February 8 Edition Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D.is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories.CIGA May Not Set Aside Stipulation Because of Change of Law. California AG Wins Suit Against Port Trucking Companies. CWCI Score Card Looks at Durable Goods Manufacturing. Apirl QME Examination Canceled. California Insurance Commissioner Says His Post Should Be Appointed. CorVel Announces Substantial Increases in Revenues and Earnings. Not All CT Scans Are Created Equal. Immune Treatment Helps Chronic Pain Patients. Zenith Income Plummets in Fiscal 2009. Fontana Man Arrested for Alleged Worker's Compensation Fraud.
January 29 Edition Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D.is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories. Cervantes SSSOP Procedure to Be Reviewed by Court of Appeal. CAAA Convention Draws Large Crowd. Too Many Rogue IRS Agents - Including Special Agent Suspected of Workers' Compensation Fraud. $20 Million in Restitution in Staffing Services Inc. Fraud Case. Workers' Compensation Patients Get Less Benefit from Back Surgery.Study Reveals Predictors Of Long-term Opioid Use For Back Pain. CWCI Scorecard Examines Agriculture Claims. Travelers Sees Record Profits. State Fund Attorney Attacked at Anaheim Appeals Board. Calif. Insurance Commissioner Poizner Trailing in Governor's Race.
January 22 Edition Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D.is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories. Technicolor Inc. Prevails With Exclusive Remedy Defense of Cancer Case. Clarification of Sandhagen UR Process Made by WCAB. Hollister HVAC Company Charged with WC Fraud. More State Funds May Be Up For Sale. No Big Comp Reforms This Year In Any State. WCRI Details Comp Market Post Recession. Workers Over 65 Have Lower Comp Indemnity Cost, NCCI Finds. Restaurant Self-Insured Group Wins 4th Conviction for Work Comp Fraud.
January 15 Edition Juan Naranjo, Esq., is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories. Supreme Court Hands DFEH Victory to City of Los Angeles. Unfinished Appellate Backlog from 2009. Workers' Comp Research Provides Insight Into Curbing Health-Care Costs. GAO Study Shows "Extraordinary" Increases in Drug Prices. Former State Fund CEO Janet Frank to join Zenith Insurance as President. US Insurance Industry Sees Jobs Gain in December. Smoking, Low Back Pain and Apportionment? Tips on Managing Prescription Drugs in California Workers' Compensation.
January 8 Edition Darlene Ball, Esq., is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories. CIGA Prevails Against AIG for $517 Million in Reinsurance Claims. Court of Appeal Rejects Serious and Willful Claim of Untrained Worker. Schwarzenegger's Furlough Days for Thousands of State Workers Ruled Illegal. Gang Member Pitchess Motion Cannot Discover Allegations of Police Officer False Workers Comp Claims. Lien Claims Filings Explode (Again). New NCCI Research Brief on Narcotics in Workers Compensation.Nose Treatment Cuts Hospital-Acquired Infections. DWC Publishes Guideline Clarifying Spinal Surgery Process.Fraud: Have We Really Seen it All? Long Beach Presiding Workers' Compensation Judge Retires. Employer's Fraud Task Force Conference and Awards Ceremony Next Monday January 11.
December 18 Edition Rene Thomas Folse JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories. Texas Court Awards Record $70 Million to Workers Comp Claimant. Health Care Reform To Have Major Impact on Mileage Rate for Travel Expenses Will Decrease on January 1. Workers' Compensation. Division of Workers' Compensation Posts Revised Benefit Notice Manual. California AG Files $2.6 Million Suit for Workers' Rights Violations. WCIRB Reports 2009 Q3 Insurer Financial Results. Court Rules on City of Los Angeles Battle with City Controller Over WC Audits. Former Prison Officer Owes CalPERS $244,400 for Workers' Comp Fraud. RAND Says California Must Address Workers' Comp Volatility. Rogue Physicians Found in Florida Pain Clinics
December 11 Edition Joel Allan Esq is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories. High Court Declines Controversial Workers' Comp Ruling. CHSWC Reports on Oversight of Self Insurance Groups. Prunedale Woman Arrested on Workers' Compensation Fraud, Elder Abuse Charges. Southern California Agent Sentenced in Workers' Comp Theft Case. Insurance Fraud Charges Filed Against CHP Dispatcher. Workers' Compensation Drug Cost Inflation is Up. California to Have Relatively Stable Workers' Comp Rates for 2010. San Francisco Saves $4 Million in Workers' Compensation Claims. Pill as Good as Steroid Injection for Tendon Problems. FDA Seeks Plan to Curb Opioid Pain Killer Abuse.
December 4 Edition Robert Nichols Esq is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories. Spinal Surgery Second Opinion Process Clarified by WCAB. Multiple Amicus Briefs Filed in Ogilvie Appeal. Daly City Councilwoman Pleads Not Guilty. CDI Terror Financing Probe Targets California Insurers. Harvard Study: Computers Don't Save Hospitals Money. Workers' Comp Managers Going Back-to-Basics to Manage Claims Costs. Some Comp Cost Increases Blamed on Medicare Rules. Court of Appeal Clarifies. Commencement of Cost of Living Adjustment for Life Pensions. CMS Network Lien Reps Face Sanctions for Frivolous Litigation. San Bernardino Bus Driver Convicted of Workers' Compensation Fraud.
November 20 Edition Debra Tobias Esq is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories. Medicare Set Asides Hot Topic at 18th National Workers' Compensation and Disability Conference. Personal Info Jeopardized After Nebraska Workers' Comp Court Computer Hacked. Auburn Business Owner Faces Prison for Federal WC Fraud. Zenith Files 2.7% Increase in Its California Workers' Compensation Rates. Business Community Pushes for Hearing on Obama's Nominee to Head OSHA. Farmers Senior WC Examiner Loses DFEH Case. Owners of Rancho Mirage Restaurant Face Felony Charges. G.A.O. Claims Work-Related Injuries Underreported. Gelson's Supermarkets Reverses 132a Award in Court of Appeal. More AIG, Liberty Mutual, Chubb Claims and Counter Claims.
November 13 Edition Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories. City of Los Angeles Has Court of Appeal Victory. Poizner Rejects Proposal for Workers' Comp Insurance Rate Hike. SCIF Files for 5% Workers' Comp Rate Increase. Texas Mutual's Dividend Payout for 2009 is $75 Million. Georgia Insurer SEUS Loaned $10 Million to CEO Before Being Liquidated. Ventura County Restaurant Worker Sentenced for WC Fraud. Redding Man Sentenced for Workers' Compensation Fraud. Nanotechnology Holds Promise for Spine Injuries. State Fund Rolls Out Pandemic Planning Seminar Series.
November 6 Edition David Weitzman Esq is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories. Los Angeles County Discrimination Case Remanded for Trial on Interactive Process Issue. Gas Stations Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion, Workers' Comp Charges. Genes May be Important in Back, Neck Pain. Sleep Disorder Research Shows High Rates in General Population. Colorado, N. Carolina, Maine lower 2010 Workers Comp Rates. ACOEM Publishes New Guidelines for Injuries to Hand, Wrist and Forearm. Working with Poultry Linked to Certain Cancers. CA Labor Commissioner Levies Nearly $1 Million in Citations. California to Update Workers Compensation Regulations. California Pizzeria Owner Pleads to Insurance Fraud.
Work Comp Academy - Work Comp Academy | Weekly News - Work Comp Academy | Weekly News If you have an iPhone or an iPod you can subscribe to our podcast in the Apple iTunes store. Subscriptions are free. Once you have subscribed, new editions of our podcast will be automatically downloaded to your device. If you have iTunes installed on your computer and wish to subscribe, click the link in the box to the left and your iTunes sofware will take you to our subcription page. Or you can search the iTunes Store for WorkCompacademy.