The California Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) reached settlements in the cases Dr. Howard, et al. v. DIR, DWC, Christine Baker, et al. (collectively “DWC”) and Dr. Botros, et al. v. DWC, agreeing to abandon its interpretation of billing rules which the agency wrongfully imposed starting in 2016 and used to deny doctors reappointment as qualified…
The California legislature was certainly busy last year, resulting in a number of new and significant employment laws effective January 1, 2018. Employers should take note of the following key developments and review their policies and practices—preferably with counsel—to ensure they are in compliance and limit their potential exposure.
Workers’ compensation insurance costs are directly tied to the classifications assigned to a business. An employer may be forced to pay more in premiums if the Workers Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) or insurance carrier incorrectly assigns a more expensive classification. While the Insurance Commissioner relies on the WCIRB to develop classification rules, RPNA recently…
RPNA Partner Nick Roxborough is teaming up with several other dynamic speakers to share his expertise on the hot topic of workers’ compensation issues at the CWC Risk Conference on September 8, 2017. With breaking news involving recent indictments and precedential bad faith claims mishandling decisions, the expert panel will discuss the ripple effect of fraudulent activities that have had and will…
RPNA Partner Drew Pomerance is joining the esteemed Employment Law Panel at CAALA’s Annual Las Vegas Convention on September 1, 2017 at the Wynn Hotel. The expert panel will present hot topics in employment law such as wrongful termination, gender and racial discrimination, equal pay, and whistleblower cases. Mr. Pomerance will be focusing on the latest…
RPNA Partner Drew Pomerance is scheduled to speak on August 29, 2017 at the California HR Conference (CAHR) in Long Beach. As one of the principal attorneys in the landmark Supreme Court decision in Augustus v. ABM, he will be exploring the impact of this ruling on rest break requirements and clarify employers’ obligations to…
Decision shows employers and excess carriers are on same footing in TPA claims mishandling RPNA won a significant claims mishandling case on behalf of Swiss Re, one of the world’s leading providers of reinsurance. After a three week trial, the superior court ruled that Sedgwick TPA Specialty Risk Services (SRS) committed seven distinct acts of…
Last week, the California Department of Insurance (CDI) reached a settlement agreement with Applied Underwriters, holding the Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary accountable and ending its bait-and-switch marketing tactics to sell its workers’ compensation products. Applied Underwriters has agreed to drop its petition to block the CDI’s enforcement action and come into compliance with well recognized state…
RPNA Partner Michael Adreani advised employers at a recent conference on how to avoid costly litigation, often in the form of class actions, for violations of California’s meal and rest period requirements. Adreani, who won an $89 million judgment in a landmark class action employment suit last December, was invited to share his insights at…
RPNA Partner Michael Adreani advises employers to have their practices signed off by all employees to ensure acknowledgement and to stay apprised of the ever-changing California Labor Code to avoid legal actions brought under PAGA, the Private Attorneys General Act. Adreani was asked for expert commentary in a recent San Fernando Valley Business Journal article…