John P. Kamin

Insurance carriers could be saving millions of dollars by properly using exclusions to bar coverage for staffing agencies, thanks to a published decision

The Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board threatened to sanction an applicant’s attorney and a hearing representative up to $20,000 apiece for filing petitions for

The Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board’s 60-day deadline to act on timely petitions for reconsideration is tolled when an administrative error thwarts the 60-day

A new bill would redefine the Labor Code’s definition of “signature” to clear up any confusion about parties’ ability to use electronic signatures

Getting the right specialty of qualified medical evaluator on cumulative trauma claims is an important tool to successfully defending against them, and there

Identifying the motivation for suspicious cumulative trauma claims can help inform carriers in defending against them. California is known as the one state

The fact that the now-repealed Covid-19 presumptions did not contain a savings clause means that there are no statutory presumptions for pending Covid-19

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s preliminary budget proposal includes a proposal to add 8 new judges for the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board. The proposal, which

Our family at the Law Offices of Bradford & Barthel wants to wish each and every one of you happy holidays and happy

The calendar year of 2023 featured some important legal decisions on the topics of appellate procedure, Covid-19, employment, and LC 5710 fees. We

As we wrap up another calendar year, the Law Offices of Bradford & Barthel wanted to take a step back and revisit some

A good batch of subpoenaed records is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get. Although Forrest Gump

California’s Covid-19 presumptions will expire on Jan. 1, 2024, which means employer-related outbreak reporting and shortened-decision timeframes are going the way of the

While the pandemic brought many positive changes to the California workers’ compensation system, there is one thing that has disappeared: Wifi. Those who

Gov. Gavin Newsom ended a relatively quiet 2023 legislative session with vetoes of a few key workers’ compensation bills on Independent Medical Review,

John Kamin details all of the work comp action that occurred in the California Legislature in 2023 with a preview of things to

A group of nonprofits have proposed eliminating a key freeway that would affect many of the people who drive to the Marina Del

Lawmakers are considering a flurry of workers’ compensation bills as a September deadline nears for them to send legislative proposals to Gov. Gavin

The defendants in the case of Earley v. WCAB are likely to ask the state Supreme Court to review the 2nd District Court

The Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board must stop its grant-for-study practice, but is not required to issue a final decision on the merits within

Louis Larres & John Kamin discussed how there is no statutory provision for "vocational apportionment" and that vocational rehabilitation experts must "carefully consider"

Employers do not owe a duty of care to prevent the spread of “take-home Covid” among employees’ family members, the California Supreme Court

Vocational rehabilitation experts may no longer simply ignore physicians’ valid medical apportionment findings and substitute it with “vocational apportionment,” the Workers’ Compensation Appeals

An applicant failed to prove that a defendant neglected or refused to provide medical care, and must continue treating within the defendant’s medical

A new panel decision from the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board affirmed a decision to reduce an applicant’s attorney’s LC 5710 fees for work

When defending against an applicant with a prior award under an older permanent disability rating schedule, practitioners should take a few extra steps

The 2nd District Court of Appeal has now completed oral arguments and is considering final briefing in the dispute over whether the Workers’

A key California Assembly Committee approved a bill that would provide additional temporary disability (TD) for improperly-denied medical treatment, but the bill still

California’s 2018 Fair Chance Act and subsequent legislation that makes it more difficult for employers to avoid hiring ex-cons often has negative effects

Join Eric Hunter, Global Futurist and John P. Kamin, Esq. from the Law Offices of Bradford & Barthel for a brief discussion of

California lawmakers have proposed a number of bills during the current legislative session that would make thousands of more employees eligible for post-traumatic

Thanks to expiring legislation and Cal-OSHA regulations, Covid-19 sick pay is no longer available for California employees. California politicians and regulators have decided

John Kamin, Bill Bartels & Sherri Dozier cover some good information on bad faith claims.

A national audience collectively gasped in horror on Monday night as a worst-case scenario occurred as Damar Hamlin made a tackle, promptly popped

As the holiday season kicks into full gear, we at Bradford and Barthel want to wish you and your loved ones happy holidays

Ten years ago, the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board issued an en banc decision that served as a shot across the bow of lien

All parties in the California workers’ compensation system should avoid the temptation to cut corners when it comes to Medicare, especially in lieu

Plotting a path forward on death claims strategy can be full of uncertainty, especially when it’s unclear whether there are any dependents. Dependency

Based on recent statutory and regulatory changes, it is very possible that employers may no longer be liable for Covid sick pay in

As the 2023 calendar year comes to a close, we here at Bradford and Barthel wanted to bring you a recap of our

The California Supreme Court is on track to have a rather significant ruling in 2023 on a question of whether a civil suit

The first and arguably easiest thing a defendant should do when evaluating any lien is determine whether it was timely filed within the

Nothing can quite turn a straightforward-looking case into a mess like a case with a confusing mix of general and special employers all

John & Bill discuss best practice for lien litigation and resolution.

The fact that the Division of Workers’ Compensation suspended 178 medical providers during the first eight months of 2022 serves as a fresh

The transition of the modern-day lien conference into electronic hearings has transformed the lien conference from an all-day event with lots of wasted

Defendants will only have 75-days to respond to decisions on first responder presumption claims as of Jan. 1, 2023, thanks to a new

The Law Offices of Bradford and Barthel LLP is expanding its role as the leading workers’ compensation defense firm in California and Nevada

Partner John Kamin describes in detail the bills that Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law in 2022 that will take effect in the

California lawmakers sent a smorgasboard of smaller workers’ compensation bills to the desk of Gov. Gavin Newsom, and he will have until the

Despite what you may have heard, it’s been well-established for years that an employer representative can sit in on the deposition of an

The Law Offices of Bradford and Barthel’s AMA Analysis and Rating Department had one of its busiest quarters ever, having completed 248 requests

Briefing is almost complete in the 2nd District Court of Appeal’s evaluation of the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board’s “grant for study” practice, and

Lawmakers eliminated a proposal to shorten the standard decision deadline from 90 to 60 days after a claim form is filed, but are

When conducting discovery in psyche cases, it’s important to make sure that medical evaluators are completely aware of any return-to-work and attempts to

Four bills that could raise costs for California employers, administrators, and carriers passed key votes in the California Legislature with an upcoming gubernatorial

California lawmakers are mulling a handful of smaller bills addressing new requirements for workers’ compensation coverage, CIGA, and how indemnity payments are made.

The California Supreme Court has had a flurry of activity on derivative injury cases lately, largely thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board approved the Covid-19 Emergency Temporary Standards through the end of 2022. The board

When doing average weekly wage (AWW) calculations, it can quickly get complicated when deciding whether per diems and reimbursements should be included. Fortunately,

A new bill proposed by state lawmakers would require employers to provide workers’ compensation coverage for any workers who are performing labor within

A new proposal by the president of the California state Senate would reduce the decision timeframe for defendants to accept or deny claims

California state lawmakers are currently considering two bills that would create a broad presumption for hospital employees and extend SB 1159’s Covid-19 presumptions.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law that would reinstate Covid sick pay for those who are infected or quarantining from Covid-19.

Since Covid-19 at-home tests suddenly became more available to the general public during the winter of 2021, more and more adjusters and administrators

During a recent doctor deposition, a well-renowned internist and pulmonologist told me that he was skeptical about whether Covid-19 could be transmitted by

Gov. Gavin Newsom broke news on Tuesday by announcing that he appears to have the votes to reinstate Covid-19 sick pay. The LA

The fine folks here at Bradford & Barthel have worked hard to bring timely, detailed, and strategic content to workers’ compensation professionals via

As we approach the end of 2021, we at Bradford & Barthel want to wish you and your loved ones happy holidays and

California’s 2021 legislative session ended with Gov. Gavin Newsom signing a number of smaller bills into law, while the bills with the largest

California may be seeing a rise in Valley Fever cases, but employers could use a preventative care idea from the Covid-19 pandemic to

The Division of Workers’ Compensation is mulling a $45 fee increase for subpoena services that produce records of 500 pages or less, in

One of Bradford & Barthel’s top workers’ compensation defense attorneys has written a new book taking a deep dive into the murders of

Now that the California’s statewide supplemental paid sick leave has expired as of September 30 2021, employers, brokers, and administrators are wondering when

Gov. Gavin Newsom has vetoed a bill that would have increased the weekly amount of EDD benefits paid by the state, which could

Gov. Gavin Newsom has vetoed a bill that would have prohibited apportionment to race, religion, color, national origin and other characteristics. The recently-re-elected

One of the best things a defendant can do in a workers’ compensation case is make a compelling argument for some or all

California employers should not be liable for negligence lawsuits alleging derivative injuries, according to a brief field with the state’s 2nd District Court

John Kamin will give a one-hour Webinar on the latest legislative and regulatory changes in the world of workers' compensation, and will also

New reporting from the WCIRB shows that total written premium for the first quarter of 2021 was down 13% from the year before,

The emergence of the Delta variant carries implications for California’s workers’ compensation market that workers’ compensation practitioners may want to take note of.

The Assembly Insurance Committee failed to pass Senate Bill 335’s proposal to reduce the 90-day decision timeframe during its July 13 meeting. The

After a year of pandemic-related shutdowns, California’s gradual reopening has been carrying gargantuan implications for the state’s workers’ compensation stakeholders.

John P. Kamin will give a rundown of the new bills approved by lawmakers this year, the impact of the November election on

John P. Kamin will go through the most important legislative changes made during the 2019 session, with a look ahead to what lawmakers

Patrick Gorman, Zane Uribarri, and John Kamin from our COVID-19 Response Team break down and summarize the latest legislation sent to Gov. Newsom

A bill that would reduce the decision timeframe to accept or deny most claims down to a 45-day timeframe is perhaps the most

EDITOR’S UPDATE 4/29/2021: The day after Bradford & Barthel published this blog, it was revealed that state lawmakers had amended Assembly Bill 1465

John Kamin and Zane Uribarri offered an in-depth look at the California Legislature’s 2020 Session, which included a special focus on Coronavirus legislation

The Division of Workers’ Compensation has submitted a controversial set of amendments to the Med-Legal Fee Schedule that could take effect on April

In light of the global pandemic and recent changes in the law, it is now more important than ever for employers and insurers

An executive at the Law Offices of Bradford & Barthel LLP helped the Legal Industry Business Council craft a list of seven strategies

Objections to remote witness testimony should not prevent workers’ compensation trials from proceeding forward, unless there is evidence as to why remote testimony

The Office of Administrative Law approved new Cal-OSHA regulations that contain numerous mandates for employers to protect their employees against COVID-19, which are

With Uber and Lyft threatening to close their doors in California, voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 22 on Election Day. The controversial proposition received

While Senate Bill 1159 hogged all the headlines, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed several other pieces of legislation that impact how employers must react

The question of how to classify gig economy workers could reach critical mass this Election Day, as voters mull how to vote on

Since Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1159 into law on Sept. 17, many questions have abounded about how the new law’s rebuttable

Lawmakers tweaked and made last-minute changes before sending proposed legislation to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk that would create a pair of rebuttable presumptions

July 5 has come and gone, meaning that Gov. Gavin Newsom’s executive order is effectively over – or is it? Senate Bill 1159

California lawmakers are eyeing both rebuttable and conclusive presumptions that COVID-19 claims are compensable as they attempt to create a formal replacement to

Per Governor Newsom’s recent Executive Order (EO) issued on May 6th, employees who have a positive test result or diagnosis of COVID-19 within

Gov. Gavin Newsom created a broad rebuttable presumption that COVID-19 claims are industrial on May 6, which applies to a larger class of

California lawmakers have proposed a rebuttable presumption that “critical workers” COVID-19 claims be presumed compensable, which could create unnecessary litigation if the specific

As Californians flatten the curve of COVID-19 cases, pressure is mounting for the state to create a rebuttable presumption that the coronavirus is

It’s important to note that during a crisis, it’s not all bad news. Even during an unprecedented crisis like this one. For instance,

Bradford & Barthel, LLP has presented two webinars this week entitled, “The Pandemic, the Claims Desk and You: How Will COVID-19 Impact W/C?“,

A California lawmaker has introduced a bill proposal that would expand legislative presumptions that a plethora of medical conditions are compensable for hospital

The pandemic of COVID-19 coronavirus has the workers’ compensation community asking how one determines compensability of a virus with a source of infection

One of the most important things to do when evaluating a claim for a specific date of injury is to determine whether the

Since Gov. Gavin Newsom approved a new law making it easier to classify gig economy workers as “employees,” a number of new legislative

The Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board issued an notice of intention to release an en banc decision that would invalidate a rule that allows

The Workers Compensation Appeals Board resolved confusion about litigation stemming from copy service lien claimants’ petitions for non-IBR disputes in an en banc

California’s current rules and regulations already contain an existing interpreter fee schedule and interpreters who fail to request a second review of carriers’

The impact of California’s new legislation aimed at changing how workers are classified will be met with resistance from some of the state’s

Defendants need to keep reports about the potentially damaging side effects of vaping in mind during the discovery process in cases with allegations

Following the 2013 decision in Kite v. Athens Administrators (2013) 78 CCC 213 (writ denied), applicant’s attorneys have attempted to take full advantage

As the California Legislature moves toward the end of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s first session, lawyers, lawmakers and lobbyists are gearing up to see

A recent en banc decision from the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board clarified what types of facts are needed to establish a “catastrophic” injury

The first few months of the 2019 legislative session opened with bills that would expand the definition of “employees” to include Uber and

Keeping track of which lien claims are stayed or subject to special lien proceedings is a full time job, thanks to the plethora

Workers’ compensation claims are a lot like poker, you’ve got to know when to hold ‘em and know when to fold ‘em. If

A couple of recent panel decisions demonstrate that the California Supreme Court’s new independent contractor/employer test in the 2018 Dynamex v. Superior Court

Outgoing Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a controversial bill during his last legislative session that would have nullified a California appellate court decision by

Legislation targeting apportionment to nonindustrial genetic factors, janitorial services, peace officers, and breast cancer claims are headlining Gov. Jerry Brown’s last legislative session

In today’s BLOG post by the Bradford & Barthel Sports Department, we’ll touch on why Tiger Woods’ comeback is amazing, the tax reform

A bill targeting the 3rd District Court of Appeal’s published decision in the City of Jackson v. WCAB is headlining the 2018 legislative

What do a landscaper, licensed vocational nurse, and a grocery store clerk all have in common? All three are at elevated risks for

The 2017 legislative session may have been a relatively quiet one for Californians seeking workers’ compensation reform, but a closer look at lawmakers’

Teams are strategically using an offseason change to Major League Baseball’s disabled list rules to prevent more significant injuries among pitchers. This has

Millions of American golfers will hit the links this summer, not knowing the dangers that lurk afoot. The truth is that golf courses

The passage of anti-fraud legislation that became effective on Jan. 1, 2017, has caused a bit of turmoil at the Workers’ Compensation Appeals

Anti Fraud and UR measures effective 09/30/2016

Governor Jerry Brown enacted numerous changes that will help carriers fight fraudulent lien claimants when he closed out the 2016 legislative session by

California lawmakers are mulling over numerous workers’ compensation bills during the current legislative session that could have significant financial consequences for carriers and

We at the Law Offices of Bradford & Barthel LLP understand that the busy holiday season can make it quite difficult to remember

The most important bill Gov. Brown signed into law during the 2015 legislative session (Assembly Bill 1124) calls for implementation of a prescription-drug

This Webinar will bring you the latest on legislative and regulatory developments at the Capitol that will impact your claims, just as California

The Problem Copy services are arguing that the implementation of the new copy service fee schedule does not allow carriers and claims administrators

The Office of Administrative Law (OAL) has approved the new Copy Service Fee Schedule. This will set a much more reliable benchmark for

The WCAB ruled it does not have jurisdiction over a former professional football player’s cumulative trauma claim because he failed to prove his

Workers’ compensation professionals have repeatedly questioned why insurance fraud is not prosecuted more frequently, in light of all of the unsavory behavior observed

Many lien claimants are able to ignore a provision of Senate Bill 863 requiring notices of representation, primarily because judges and attorneys are