WCAB (En Banc) Limits Replacement QME Process. Admitting Evidence Not Listed at MSC Is Not “Harmless Error”. Court Finds United Indian Health Immune From WCAB Jurisdiction. PAGA Action Prevailing Employer May Not Recover Costs From LWDA. Ninth Circuit Upholds AB 5 Against Independent Truckers’ Challenge. SoCal Police Officer and Attorney Face $600K Comp Fraud Charges. Tulare Doctor Pleads Guilty to Distributing Misbranded COVID Drugs. Security Company Owner Sentenced for $3.4 M Premium Fraud.
DOI For Coverage Mandatory Arbitration is Defined by LC 5412. Jury Trial Rights Attach to Claim for Unruh Civil Rights Act Damages. Six Month Delay in Requesting Arbitration Constitutes “Waiver”. Public Insurance Adjusters Face Deceptive Practices Allegations. Fresno Health System to Pay $31.5 M to Resolve Kickback Case. Ventura County Unlicensed Physician Re-Arrested for Practicing. NCCI Report: Workers’ Comp System Remains Strong. AI Outperforms Radiologists’ Detection of Breast Cancers.
WCAB Upholds Managing Partner’s Waiver of Comp Benefits. Court of Appeal Limits Exceptions to Going and Coming Rule. California FAA Preemption Battle Continues in Trial Courts. Medical Clinic Operator Admits Physician Identity Theft. California Legislators Take Steps to Clean Up “Rehab Riviera”. DOL Announces Independent Contractor Rule – Version 4.0. California DOJ Publishes 5th Edition of Disability Rights Handbook. Industry Mourns Passing of WCJ William M. Carero.
Injured LAPD Officer Pursues FEHA Claim for Subrosa Investigation. “Death Knell Doctrine” Does Not Support Class Action Appeal. Attorneys and Others Charged in $14.5M Unlawful WC Referral Fraud. Amazon Driver Staged Robbery for Fraudulent Work Comp Claim. Fresno County Farmer Sentenced for Insurance Fraud. Janitorial Services Owner Sentenced for Comp Premium Fraud. Workers’ Comp Claim Costs Increased Across 18 Study States. Researchers Target $19 Billion Academic Publishing Industry.
Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: Major TPA Faces Challenge by Excess Carrier after $34.5M Verdict. State Farm, Farmers and 25 Top California Carriers Sued for “Collusion”. SCOTUS Shifts Burden of Proof to Employers in ERISA Litigation. Employee Waiver of Meal Breaks for 6 hour Shifts Are Valid. PAGA One Year Statute of Limitations Applies to Penalties. $1M Verdict Against LAPD for FEHA Violations Affirmed. 39 State AGs Ask Congress to End PBM Pharmacy Ownership. AI Discussed at Orthopedic Surgeon San Diego Town Hall.
Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: WCAB Denied Commutation of 76% PD Award to Pay Bills. Exclusive Remedy Applies if Contracting for 52+ Hour Job. Community Colleges Face Massive “Pell Runner” Financial Aid Fraud. Accounting Chief at Girardi Keese Law Firm to Serve 10 Years. Labor Alliance Officers Sentenced For WC and Pension Fraud. Insurance Agent and Son Charged With $1.4M Commission Fraud. Misdated VA PACT Act Disability Decisions Cost Millions. Studies Show Surgeons Continue to Leave Materials in Patients.
Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: WCAB Applies Amended L.C. 4707(c) Retroactively. Filing Claim in Employers’ Bankruptcy Not Required for UEBTF Benefits. L.A. Judge Disqualified Post Trial and $10M FEHA Verdict Reversed. Critic of Medi-Cal Crisis Launches SoCal Fraud and Corruption Task Force. DWC Releases 2024 Independent Medical Review (IMR) Report. Novo Nordisk and Others Challenge Medicare Drug Price Negotiations. ASHP Reports AI Helps Pharmacists Streamline Routine Tasks. Developments in Orthopedic Surgical and Non-Surgical Care.
Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: Cigna Faces Class Action for Use of PxDx Algorithm to Deny Claims. Legal Aid Lawsuit Forces EDD to Fix Broken UI Notification System. UIM Arbitration is Not a “Civil Action” Protected by Covid Rules. Old Arbitration Agreements Need Clear Wording After Viking River. After Supreme Ct. Remand, CSU Need Not Reimburse Employees. LA Couple Sentenced for $2.3M WC Premium Fraud. San Diego Plumbing Contractor Sentenced for SCIF Premium Fraud. EDD Employee to Serve 66 Months for Fraud and Bribery Scheme.
Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: WCAB Rules UR Denial Needs Adequate Medical History Records. Workers’ Comp Claim Does Not Toll FEHA Statute of Limitations. SoCal Medical Group to Pay $62M to Settle False Claims Lawsuit. Bay Area Tow Truck Auto Fraud Conspiracies – Out of Control. Jury Convicts San Diego Attorney for Fraud Schemes. Treatment Center Operator Convicted for $2.9M in Kickbacks. Carson Tahoe Health System to Pay $8.8M for Unlawful Benefits. CWCI New Hire Notices Are Updated for 2025.
Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: WCAB Outlines Ground Rules for WCJ Disqualification. Plaintiff’s Attorney Disqualified for Violation of State Bar Rule 4.4. Activision Blizzard CEO Lawsuit Claims Defamatory Media Collusion. Appeal Reverses 33 out of 37 Counts Against Attorney Jon Woods. Sham Health Insurance Plan Resolves AG Claim for $1.3M. Minor Dent Leads to $3000 Insurance Fraud Sting Operation Arrest. Cal/OSHA Cites Contractor $157.5K for Open Trench Death. Annual Report: Santa Monica Workers’ Comp Claims Surge.