MICHAEL SULLIVAN & ASSOCIATES BLOG

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2024 Employment Law Legislation Employers Must Know

2024 Employment Law Legislation Employers Must Know

The California Legislature has concluded its final session of the year, passing an abundance of new employment laws. Now that the Governor’s time to veto, approve, or allow these bills to take effect has passed, here are some key new laws that California employers should be aware of. Please note that this is only a summary of important new laws, and covers neither every new law nor every aspect of the laws below.

Service of Qualified Medical Evaluator Panels

Service of Qualified Medical Evaluator Panels

Labor Code § 4062.2 establishes the procedure to be followed "[w]henever a comprehensive medical evaluation is required to resolve any dispute arising out of an injury or a claimed injury occurring on or after January 1, 2005, and the employee is represented by an attorney." A party may request a panel of qualified medical evaluators (QME panel) the first working day that's at least 10 days after the date of mailing a request for a medical evaluation pursuant to LC 4060, or the first working day that's at least 10 days after the date of mailing an objection pursuant to LC 4061 or LC 4062.

Nunes II: WCAB Upholds Vocational Apportionment as Invalid

Nunes II: WCAB Upholds Vocational Apportionment as Invalid

On June 22, 2023, in Nunes v. State of California, Dept. of Motor Vehicles,[1] the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) issued an en banc holding that:

  1. Labor Code § 4663 "requires a reporting physician to make an apportionment determination and prescribes the standard for apportionment. The Labor Code makes no statutory provision for 'vocational apportionment.'"
  2. "Vocational evidence may be used to address issues relevant to the determination of permanent disability."
  3. "Vocational evidence must address apportionment, and may not substitute impermissible 'vocational apportionment' in place of otherwise valid medical apportionment."

Fun in the Sun at Sedgwick’s Rancho Cordova Sprit Week

Fun in the Sun at Sedgwick’s Rancho Cordova Sprit Week

MS&A enjoyed visiting Sedgwick’s Rancho Cordova office on “Sports Fan” day during its summer Spirit Week! Shave Ice “won” the day with cool treats!

If you'd like to join MS&A at one of our upcoming events, just follow us on one of our social media channels--we're on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. We'd love to have you attend one of our events!