MICHAEL SULLIVAN & ASSOCIATES BLOG

MS&A had a blast at the CAJPA Fall Conference last week! Thanks to everyone who made it a memorable event and we’ll see you again next year!

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 X. We'd love to have you attend one of our events!

It's the August Rhino Round-up! From conferences to escape rooms and summer parties, August was a great month for connecting with clients and colleagues!

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!

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."

The WCIRB California's 2023 State of the System Report revealed that shares of self-insurance vary widely by industry and are relatively low in most cases.

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!

We had a blast at the AAWCP Nor-Cal Summer Mixer last Saturday! Check out these snapshots from an unforgettable evening of networking and fun!

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!

On Aug. 1, 2023, the 2nd District Court of Appeal issued its decision in Earley v. WCAB invalidating the long-standing practice of the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) to grant petitions for reconsideration without first deciding whether reconsideration is warranted. The court held that grant-for-study orders violated Labor Code § 5908.5. But it also held that the WCAB is not required to issue a final ruling on the merits within 60 days. This case was discussed in detail in our previous article.^[1]

Fascinating insights from WCIRB California's 2023 State of the System report! California CT claims were up between 2011 and 2019, primarily due to claims filed in the Los Angeles and San Diego areas. While 2020 saw a significant increase in claims filed in Los Angeles, the number of statewide CT claims returned to approximately pre-pandemic levels in 2021.