WorkCompAcademy | Weekly News

Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph. D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: WCAB En Banc Ruled Orders Suspending Action Requires Due Process. Ethics Slip Voids Lawyers' Retainer in $374M Global Settlement. Manageability No Basis to Breakup Joinder of 440 Tesla Workers Cases. Unlicensed Contractor Rules for Homeowner Negligence Case Clarified. Court Backs Insurance Commi...

Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph. D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: Appellate Court Rules Cal/OSHA May Investigate Like a Grand Jury. Class Certification Denied in Carrier "Hidden Premium" Case. Court Rules 500 S.F. Municipal Attorneys Remain At-Will Employees. UPS Mechanic Sentenced for Workers Compensation Fraud. Healthcare Fraud Takedown Results in 10 SoCal D...

Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph. D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: Plaintiff Need Not Prove Anyone "Actually Viewed" Stolen Medical Data. Tesla Freemont Yard Hostlers Engage in Interstate Commerce. Courts Have Broad Discretion to Reduce PAGA Penalties and Fees. Judge Said Use of AI Was "Worst Example of Misconduct by a Lawyer". Rising SoCal CT Claims Are Shifti...

Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph. D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: Exclusive Remedy Applies During Unpaid Lunch Break. 1st & 5th DCA Disagree on FCRA Class Action Standing Requirement. Court Must Decide if Federal or State Arbitration Law Applies. CVS Resolves Insulin Pen Overbilling Medi-Cal Case for $36.5M. S.F. Telehealth Company Resolves False Claims Case f...

Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph. D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories:New Trial for Historical 19 Year Long Employment Law Class Action. FAA’s Arbitration Exemption Extended to “Last-Mile” Delivery Drivers. Arizona AG Sues Eight Major Health Insurers For Price Fixing. Massachusetts AG Sues UnitedHealthcare For Alleged $100M Fraud. Burbank Lab Owner Sentenced to 51...

Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph. D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: Supreme Court Sets Oral Argument in WCAB Grant for Study Controversy. No Duty for Employer to Accommodate Undisclosed Mental Disability. Employer's Sexual Harassment Investigation May Not Be Privileged. 3 SoCal Residents Convicted for $2B International Prescription Fraud. Four Drivers Arraigned...

Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph. D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: Stepchild Entitled to Conclusive Presumption of Total Dependency. Employer's $257K Attorney Fee Award Against Employee Affirmed. Major Drug Maker to Pay $13.6M to Resolve Kickback Case. Owner of Health Care Software Company Convicted for $1B Fraud. When Can Treating Physician Use Narrative Repor...

Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph. D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: WCAB Arbitrator Held to Same Procedural Standards as WCJ. SCIF Prevails in 20 Year Long Employer Premium Audit Litigation. Employers File More RICO Actions Against Plaintiff Lawyers. Court Finds County Liable for Losing Personnel & CalPERS Records. Sutter Health Resolves ERISA Class Action for $...

Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph. D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: Railcar Repairman Not Under FAA Transportation Worker Exemption. Staffing Company Arbitration Agmt. Not Applicable to Employer. O.C. PET Scan Provider to Pay 8.3M to Resolve Kickback Case. Clinic Pays $750K to Resolve Illegal Use of Misbranded Implants. California DOI Takes Enforcement Action Ag...

Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph. D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: Court of Appeal May Rely on WCAB Unread Certified Record. Court of Appeal Rejects Opinions of Leading Law Treatises. Going and Coming Rule Not Negated by Hybrid Working From Home. California Uber Drivers Allege Uber Violated Prop 22 Provisions. $2M Fraud Proceeds Seized From Pasadena Wound Care...

Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph. D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: WCAB Panel Says Applicant Credibility Issue Justifies Take Nothing. Exclusive Remedy Bars Fraud Case Against TPA and Claim Adjuster. Zurich Claims $1.1M in Unpaid Staffing Company Comp Premiums. FEHA Standing Applies to Nursing Student on Clinical Rotations. Trial Court Denial of Workers' Class...

Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph. D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: 132a Reversed Because WCAB Systematically Ignored Evidence. Reconsideration Denied in SCIF Commutation Significant Panel Decision. New York Federal Court Extends FEHA Reach in High Profile Case. Med Examiner Steals Necklace While Investigating Death of Worker. Podiatrist Sentenced for $3.2 Milli...

Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph. D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: 9th Circuit Strikes Down Most of California's Dialysis Law - AB 290. Ventura Contractor Charged with Workers’ Compensation Fraud. Orange County Man Pleads Guilty to $270M Prescription Fraud. "Ketamine Queen" to Serve 15 Years For Matthew Perry Death. Corrupt SoCal ChiroMed Clinic Operator Senten...

Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph. D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: Lien Dismissal for Failure to File Declaration Under § 4903.05(c). Court of Appeal to Decide Limits on Corporate Practice of Medicine. Collateral Estoppel Cannot be Used to Invalidate Arbitration Agreements. Commission Censures and Bars Former Orange County Judge. IHSS Worker Pleads Guilty to Wo...

Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph. D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: 9th Circuit Rejects Application of California Arbitration Law. Anti-SLAPP Motion Denial Affirmed in University Retaliation Case. Express Language in Arbitration Agreement Required for Use of FAA. Repayment Funds May be Required if Class Settlement Revoked. Man Indicted for $90M Medical Equipment...

Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph. D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: LA City College Owes Damages for Blind Students Inadequate Accommodations. Companies Allegedly Sell EHR Data to Mass Tort Plaintiff Lawyers. Janitorial Company Arbitration Clause Passes Unconscionability Tests. Fraud Crackdowns Announced From Whitehouse to Los Angeles. Two LAPD Officers Arrested...

Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph. D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: Court Strikes $1M Worker's Punitive Damages for Lack of Evidence. DOI, Consumer Watchdog and State Farm Reach Settlement. Man To Serve 7 Years for Threatening to Kill Orange County Judge. Owners of SoCal Towing Companies Arrested for $6M Comp Fraud. DWC posts proposal to update ADA accommodation...

Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph. D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: WCAB Affirms Take Nothing Based on Worker Credibility Issues. Court Declines to Overturn Arbitration Award in Favor of Employer. Good Forensic Mesothelioma Evidence Leads to $50 M Verdict. LAPD Officer Seen Skydiving Charged with Exaggerating Comp Injury. Multiple Family Members Arraigned for Au...

Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph. D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: AI Is Not A Lawyer - and No Attorney-Client Privilege Applies. Supreme Court Hohenshelt Ruling Gains Traction in Pending Cases. City of Los Angeles Prevails in City Attorney Discrimination Case. Former NFL Player and Lab Owner Convicted in $328M Medicare Fraud. NorCal Tow Company Operator Senten...

Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph. D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: City of Santa Ana Prevails in Injured Workers FEHA Case. Exclusive Remedy Ends City Office Workers Asbestos Lawsuit. Court of Appeal Affirms Workplace Violence Restraining Order. Bayer Now Proposes $7.25B Roundup Litigation Settlement. Two SoCal Attorney's 13 Year Dispute Resolves Complex Litiga...

Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph. D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: Exclusive Remedy Applies to Cal/OSHA Rule Violations. LCO Resolves Farm Workers' Wage-and-Hour Case for $6M. Former NFL Player Convicted for $197M Medicare Fraud. 8 Carriers Targeted for Advance Premium Tax Credit Fraud Probe. The Workplace Overdose Reversal Kits (WORK) to Save Lives Act. OSHA C...

Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph. D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: Entities Related to Convicted Felon Dr. Grusd in 8th Year of Lien Litigation. Employees Can Sue for Even Technical ICRAA Disclosure Violations. Illegible Fine Print May Not Invalidate Arbitration Agreement. 2026 Young Worker Leadership Academy Set For February 12-14. DOI Proposes California FAIR...

Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph. D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: Lien Consolidation Orders Require Reasons & Summary of Evidence. Fed Court Uses Rule 23(d) to Limit Arbitration Opt Out Abuse. Current Status of Non-Compete Clauses in Employment Contracts. New QME Process Regulation Section 55.1 in Effect on April 1. The DWC Proposes New Regulation Restricting...

Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph. D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: Ventura Staffing Company to Pay $650K for Fake Comp Policies. WorkWhile to Pay $4.1M to Resolve Misclassification Case. Drug Prices Up 4% as PBM Federal/State Regulations Increase. DWC Posts Reminder for Submission of Annual Report of Inventory. California WARN Act Changes Effective January 1, 2...

Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph. D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: Court Reverses WCAB in Another "Grant-For-Study" Case. Commutation of Attorney Fees in Lifetime Award Ends After Full Payment. Interstate Commerce Not Required for FAA Arbitration Clause. Employers Face New "Know Your Rights" Handout February Deadline. Public Self-Insured Comp Claims Fell But Lo...