IMR Upheld as Constitutional Once Again June 26, 2017
Independent medical review (“IMR”) has survived another challenge in court. On June 14, 2017, the California Supreme Court denied a petition for review regarding the Third District Court of Appeal’s decision in Ramirez v. WCAB (2017) 10 Cal.App.5th 205.
DWC Announces Temporary Total Disability Rates for 2018
The Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) announces that the 2018 minimum and maximum temporary total disability (TTD) rates will increase on January 1, 2018. The minimum TTD rate will increase from $175.88 to $182.29, and the maximum TTD rate will increase from $1,172.57 to $1215.27 per week.
City of Jackson (Rice) Helps Defendants Fight for Non-Industrial Apportionment
On April 26, 2017, the Third District Court of Appeal issued its decision in City of Jackson v. Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (Rice) resolving the question whether “heritability and genetics” may be properly considered to apportion causation for a disability caused by a degenerative disease. (No. C078706, publication pending). The court answered the question in the affirmative.
Cal/OSHA UPDATE: Significant Increases in Civil Penalties Slated for 2017
California is one of 22 states that maintain their own Occupational Safety and Health Administration plan. Cal/OSHA was enacted in 1973 pursuant to authority granted by Federal OSHA. The California plan must assure safe and healthful working conditions for all California employees through enforcement of effective regulations.