RAND Calls WC Judicial System too Old School By Robert Warne - April 7, 2003The RAND Institute for Civil Justice recently conducted a comprehensive study of California’s workers’ compensation judicial system.
The California Commission on Health and Safety and Workers’ Compensation initiated the study so that the failing aspects of the system could be addressed.
From the study RAND researchers reported that the workers’ compensation judicial system is failing in many aspects.
The study highlighted that the courts have failed to operate within the time frames established by law for the 200,000 claims they hear each year. Much of the delay the study concluded is caused by a lack of clerks needed to manage the paperwork associated with the claims.
Also putting a drag on the system is the ancient computer system used by the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board and the Division of Workers’ Compensation. The current system is unable to efficiently handle the caseloads.
Outdated and irrelevant rules that have been either ignored or inconsistently applied have also anchored the system to an earlier generation of claims.
Rounding off its critique, RAND recommended that judges with poor organization and time-management skills should receive the training that would enable them to issue speedy decisions following a trial.
RAND reported that while it was conducting its study it was also providing preliminary findings to officials. As a result, officials have a head start on implementing some of its recommendations.
One aspect that RAND calls money well spent has to do with $8 million contained in Gov. Gray Davis’ budget plan to correct some of the problems.
While still more money is needed—the initial $8 million is one step in the direction of judicial modernization.
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