Workers Comp Zone

A Partner at Boxer & Gerson LLP, Julius Young has practiced worker’s compensation law and social security disability law since 1979. He has represented thousands of individuals who have sustained life-changing injuries or illnesses while on the job. In every case, his goal is to secure the medical treatments his clients need.

September 30, 2011

THE ESCAMILLA DECISION

Among the en banc rulings of the WCAB this week was “In Re: Daniel Escamilla”. Escamilla, appearing as a lien rep in various WCAB proceedings in Southern California, is noted to have engaged in a pattern of misleading statements and frivolous tactics. Despite having been sanctioned by various judges and even called before the WCAB […]


September 29, 2011

EN BANCS

I’ve been on the road the last couple of days, speaking as a guest lecturer at the California Workers’ Compensation & Risk Conference, held in Monarch Beach in Orange County. The conference is primarily attended by insurer claims representatives, self insured administrators, and some defense attorneys. Speakers this year included WCAB Commissioners Ronnie Caplane and […]


September 27, 2011

DAVE JONES AND COMP

Some injured workers may assume that California’s Insurance Commissioner has a lot to do with workers’ comp benefits. That’s actually not the case, as the Insurance Commissioner is not involved in administering the system, setting policy and procedures, or legislative matters. Still, the Insurance Commissioner must weigh in periodically on rates, which is why hearings […]


September 25, 2011

WORKERS' COMP RATE HEARINGS

Interested in following the upcoming Tuesday morning hearings on workers’ comp rates by the California Department of Insurance, but unable to get to San Francisco to attend in person? The hearing may be very interesting as the WCIRB and the CDI shift from a former measure of workers’ comp rates to a new measure. There’s […]


September 22, 2011

IT'S BASED ON WALL STREET, STUPID!

Thought that California workers’ comp rates were largely determined by claims costs? If so, you are like most people. Year after year reports by the WCIRB (California Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau) precede California Department of Insurance rate hearings on insurance carrier rates. Indeed, next Tuesday September 27 Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones will be holding […]


September 20, 2011

PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE

A récent Los Angeles Times article on prescription drug abuse is worth noting. The article, “Drug Deaths Now Outnumber Traffic Fatalities in the U.S.”, by Lisa Giron, Scott Glover and Doug Smith, is likely to add further weight to concerns about the expanded use of opioids in the workers’ comp system. The authors charge that: […]


September 19, 2011

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

America seems to be in the midst of a sea change about the concept of personal responsibility. The latest reminder was the audience response to questions posed to Presidential candidate Ron Paul by moderator Wolf Blitzer at a recent GOP Presidential debate. Should an uninsured 30 year old with a treatable condition who chose not […]