Source: http://www.lexisnexis.com/legalnewsroom/workers-compensation/b/recent-cases-news-trends-developments/archive/2013/06/28/california-apportionment-conclusive-presumptions-and-labor-code-section-4662-part-2-of-2.aspx
Timestamp: 2014-04-19 19:55:37
Document Index: 383472854

Matched Legal Cases: ['§4662', '§4664', '§4664', '§4662', '§4662', '§4662', '§4662', '§4663', '§4662', '§4662', '§4662', '§4662', '§4662', '§4662', '§4662', '§4662', '§4662', '§4662']

12:07 AM Author: Calif. WCAB Noteworthy Panel Decisions Reporter
In the writ denied panel decision of Kaiser v. WCAB (Dragomir-Tremoreux), (2006) 71 Cal. Comp. Cases 538 [71 Cal. Comp. Cases 538], there was a prior award to the same body part. The WCAB panel held: “Here, we conclude that, although section 4664(b) applies and, therefore, it is conclusively presumed that applicant's 18.75% permanent partial wrist disability existed at the time of the subsequent injuries at issue herein, the conclusive presumption of permanent total disability pursuant to section 4662(b) also applies and precludes apportionment of any kind, including apportionment to a prior award under section 4664(b).” (Emphasis added.)
By including the “carve-out” for not applying apportionment to LC §4662 cases in LC §4664(c)(1), the panel believed the legislature intended this to apply to all sections of the LC §4664 statutes. Based on this language, in Dragomir-Tremoreux, supra, the injured worker could be receive a total lifetime award of 118.75% PD with regard to her upper extremities, even though she has a prior 18.75% PD award to her wrist, since she was conclusively presumed 100% under LC §4662. Several other panel decisions have followed this analysis. See Hill v. Securitas Security Services, 2012 Cal Wrk Comp PD LEXIS 294 [2012 Cal Wrk Comp PD LEXIS 294] (WCAB panel); Sanchez v. City of Santa Clara, 76 Cal. Comp. Cases 799 [76 Cal. Comp. Cases 799] (writ denied) and Wight v. General Dynamics Corp, 2010 Cal Wrk Comp PD LEXIS 331 [2010 Cal Wrk Comp PD LEXIS 331] (WCAB Panel)
However, the majority of cases, especially in recent months, seem to hold that apportionment is applicable to LC §4662 100% PD conclusive presumption cases. Cases With 100% PD in “Accordance with the Fact” per LC §4662:
In the panel decision of Corbitt v. Media Quest, 2012 Cal Wrk Comp PD LEXIS 458 [2012 Cal Wrk Comp PD LEXIS 458] the injured worker was found to be 100% PD “in accordance with the fact” pursuant to LC §4662. The injured worker cited the Dragomir-Tremoureux and Sanchez cases listed above to support his position that LC §4663 apportionment should not apply to reduce his award of 100%. Although it is clear that the subsections of LC §4662 (a) though (d) deal with conclusive presumptions, there has never been definitive authority as to whether or not the last 100% PD category of LC §4662 “in accordance with the fact” constitutes a conclusive presumption. The WCAB panel in the Corbitt case held that it did not. They concluded, “Dragomir-Tremoureux and Sanchez are completely inapplicable to the instant case, because here the applicant has not sustained an injury conclusively presumed to cause permanent disability under LC §4662.” (Emphasis added.) The WCAB basically determined in Corbitt that a finding of 100% PD under LC §4662 is only a conclusive presumption, if one of the LC §4662 (a) through (d) criteria are met. If the 100% PD is established by LC §4662 “in accordance with the fact,” it is considered a rebuttable presumption subject to apportionment. See also Lingbaoan v. State of California, 2011 Cal Wrk Comp PD LEXIS 38 [2011 Cal Wrk Comp PD LEXIS 38], Martinez v. Southern California Edison, 2012 Cal Wrk Comp PD LEXIS 586 [2012 Cal Wrk Comp PD LEXIS 586]; Mehas-Wipf v. Corning Revere Factory Stores, 2012 Cal Wrk Comp PD LEXIS 370 [2012 Cal Wrk Comp PD LEXIS 370]; Nooner v. City of San Diego, 2008 Cal Wrk Comp PD LEXIS 907 [2008 Cal Wrk Comp PD LEXIS 907]; Driver v. Holt, 2012 Cal Wrk Comp PD LEXIS 571 [2012 Cal Wrk Comp PD LEXIS 571] (Oct 16, 2012).
The holding in the case of Richardson v. Checkmate Transport, 2012 Cal Wrk Comp PD LEXIS 597 [2012 Cal Wrk Comp PD LEXIS 597] (Dec 7, 2012) tweaks the above premise and holds that apportionment applies in all LC §4662 cases, EVEN in cases when the presumption is clearly conclusive (i.e., in LC §4662(a) through (d).) In the Richardson panel decision, the injured worker was determined to be 100% PD based on his loss of use of both hands per LC §4662(b). The doctor commented that a cumulative trauma contributed to this injury, but the specific injury was the primary cause. The WCJ awarded an unapportioned 100% PD award to the injured worker. The defense filed a Petition for Reconsideration, claiming the WCJ erred by not apportioning the two injuries per the case of Benson v. WCAB, (2009) 170 Cal App 4th 1535, 74 Cal Comp Cases 113 [74 Cal Comp Cases 113]. The WCAB panel agreed with defense that the Benson apportionment should apply, but that the defense had failed on their burden of proof on this issue.
Can the Richardson case be distinguished from the cases discussed above that hold a LC §4662 conclusive presumption is conclusive and non-apportionable? Perhaps not. CONCLUSION: How should practitioners treat these cases? As aberrations? As a new trend in the law? All of the cases to date are panel decisions. And although panel decisions are citable and can be used as persuasive authority, they are not binding. (WCAB en banc decision of Guitron v. Sante Fe Extruders (2011) 76 Cal. Comp. Cases 228, at footnote 7 [76 Cal. Comp. Cases 228].) It will take a higher authority, such as a WCAB en banc decision or a decision by the District Court of Appeal, before parties will have clarity on this issue. In the meantime, parties should approach discovery accordingly. © Copyright 2013 LexisNexis. All rights reserved.