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April 25, 2024
California Department of Industrial Relations and Cal/OSHA Will Honor Workers’ Memorial Day at Four Events in California on April 28th-29th 2024. Cal/OSHA Joining Partners in Arcadia, Richmond, San Diego and San Francisco.

April 23, 2024
California Division of Workers' Compensation Launches Online Portal for Submission of QME Medical-Legal Reports

April 22, 2024
California Division of Workers’ Compensation Posts Updated Time of Hire Notice

April 22, 2024
Sullivan on Comp Launches ChatSOC. It's an Innovative Chatbot for California Workers' Compensation Professionals Integrated with an Authoritative Legal Treatise

9/11 Victims’ Families Sound Off to Feinberg

Not everyone will receive the amount of benefits originally expected from the Sept. 11 Victim’s Compensation Fund. Kenneth Feinberg, special master of the fund, will listen this week to comments from family members who feel the program is not fair. Some say the $50,000 payment for each dependent child is too low. Others are unhappy about an apparent ceiling on economic loss awards at $231,000. But most family members don’t like the idea that pensions, life insurance and other death benefits will be deducted from any award. Feinberg will hear family input about the fund until Jan. 22; then he will finalize the document and start accepting claims.

Soccer Dad Arrested for Workers’ Comp Fraud

Juan Carlos Garcia, 33, was arrested Jan. 16 on seven counts of workers’ compensation fraud. The California Department of Insurance investigated Garcia’s claims of injury while working for Mr. Clean Maintenance Systems. Under oath, Garcia said he had not used drugs or alcohol for six weeks, nor had he played soccer since his injury, except a minimal amount with his son. Investigators found those statements to be false. Kemper Insurance paid approximately $9,000 in connection with Garcia’s claim.

“Give Me Choices” says PG&E Bankruptcy Judge

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Dennis Montali wants alternatives to choose from before he approves any plan for Pacific Gas & Electric Co.’s (PG&E) bankruptcy proceedings. On Jan. 16 Montali told a lawyer for California’s Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to provide him with an alternative to the plan PG&E has outlined. Montali said PG&E’s plan is “enormously risky.” Montali is also considering mediation. Whatever plan is approved, it needs to address whether or not former PG&E employees injured on the job will receive workers’ compensation payments from the utility or its spin-off companies. PG&E must turn in a complete plan to Montali by Feb. 4, but they have asked for a four-month extension. Montali wants PUC’s plan Feb. 13.