Recent News: Employers
Claim Related
California Workers Comp Total Temporary Disability Maximum to Top $1,100 a Week in 2015
http://www.cwci.org/press_release.html?id=397
CWCI Analysis Measures Attorney Involvement in California WC
California Workers’ Compensation Institute (CWCI) analysis of closed and resolved work injury claims from accident years 2005 through 2010 finds that statewide, attorneys were involved in 11.6 percent of all claims (including medical-only cases), 38 percent of lost-time claims and 80 percent of permanent disability claims. The study also confirms that the area in and around Los Angeles remains a hotbed for California workers’ compensation litigation, especially compared to Northern California -- including San Francisco and most of the Bay Area -- where attorney involvement rates on lost-time claims are nearly 15 percentage points lower.
http://www.cwci.org/press_release.html?id=374
DWC Newlines
DWC newslines were created in 1992 to provide up-to-date information about the Division of Workers’ Compensation to subscribers. Newslines are archived by year. Please note that information may be outdated and some of the hyperlinks no longer work.
http://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/dwc_newsline.html
Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB)
The Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) exercises all judicial powers vested by the Labor Code in a reasonable and sound manner and provides guidance and leadership to the workers’ compensation community through case opinions and regulations
En banc decisions (http://www.dir.ca.gov/wcab/wcab_enbanc.htm)
A matter reassigned by the chairman on a majority vote of the commissioners to the Appeals Board as a whole in order to achieve uniformity of decision or in cases presenting novel issues.
Significant panel decisions (http://www.dir.ca.gov/wcab/wcab_panel.htm)
Cases that are identified for dissemination by the WCAB in order to address new or recurring issues of importance to the workers' compensation community. Significant Panel Decisions have been reviewed by each of the commissioners, who agree that the decision merits general dissemination.
Cases pending on appellate grants (http://www.dir.ca.gov/wcab/wcab_appeal.htm)
A list of the workers' compensation cases in which writs of review have been granted by the district courts of appeal and the Supreme Court.
This list is updated each month, at which time recent appellate grants and the dates of additional oral arguments are added to the list. Cases in which an appellate court opinion has issued are deleted. For further information about oral arguments or the status of a case, one should contact the clerk of the court in which the writ of review is pending. The brief summary of the issues in each case is included for general information only and is not intended as a definitive description of the issues or as a statement by the court itself.
Finance Related
WCIRB
2014-19 Summary of 2014 California Legislation – Bills Signed by the Governor
October 1, 2014
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The California Legislature recessed for the year on August 31, 2014 and the Governor had until September 30, 2014 to sign or veto any bill passed by the Legislature. Following is a summary of the workers’ compensation bills that were signed by the Governor that may be of interest.
WCIRB Report on Second Quarter 2014 Experience Released
September 11, 2014
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The WCIRB has completed its report on workers’ compensation insurer loss and premium experience through June 30, 2014. The major findings of the report include:
Losses and Expenses Summary Reports
June 26, 2014
These reports are prepared pursuant to Section 11759.1 of the California Insurance Code. The reports contain information about calendar year hospital, physician and medical-legal cost; insurer losses and expenses; fees paid to applicant attorneys; and workers' compensation costs by type of injury
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CHSWC 2013 Annual Report Published December 2013
CHSWC 2012 Annual Report Published December 2012
For Release: August 28, 2014
Multiple state agencies combine efforts to conduct statewide underground economy sweep – many violations found
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Fraud Related
2014 Press Release per California DOI
For Release: August 28, 2014
Multiple state agencies combine efforts to conduct statewide underground economy sweep – many violations found.
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For Release: June 25, 2014
Business owner arrested on multiple felony charges for illegal business operations and workers' compensation insurance fraud.
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For Release: June 13, 2014
Multi-agency task force conducts statewide underground economy sweep.
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For Release: June 12, 2014
CDI leads multi-agency task force in statewide underground economy sweep.
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For Release: June 6, 2014
Paving contractors arrested for workers' compensation, prevailing wage and payroll fraud.
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For Release: June 5, 2014
Pacific Grove architect pleads guilty to workers' compensation fraud.
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For Release: May 29, 2014
Department of Insurance intensifies efforts to fight workers' compensation fraud in Southern California.
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For Release: May 15, 2014
Business owner fails to report payroll and is arrested on premium insurance fraud.
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For Release: May 7, 2014
Sentencing set for former Murrieta broker.
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For Release: February 21, 2014
$500 million dollar medical and workers’ comp fraud conspiracy uncovered.
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2014 DOI
http://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0100-press-releases/2014/subject.cfm