We understand these are extremely uncertain times with the rapid spread of COVID-19 impacting virtually every facet of business and resulting in a wave of emergency legislation. Recently, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”) was passed requiring employers with fewer than 500 employees to provide employees with paid leave in certain circumstances related to…
As the COVID-19 crisis makes it much more difficult for employers to make premium payments and disrupts the submission and processing of insurance claims, RPNA wanted to alert its friends and clients concerning recent efforts by the California Department of Insurance (CDOI) to assist policyholders. Specifically, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has recently issued two significant…
Although more work still needs to be done, RPNA, which proudly represents over 100 qualified medical evaluators (QMEs) and several QME management companies, was successful this week in its fight to persuade the Division of Workers Compensation (DWC) to take action to protect injured workers and QMEs during the rapidly exploding COVID-19 crisis through the…
As California’s “shelter in place” Order enters its third full week, RPNA has worked closely with numerous business clients to plan their legal needs for the difficult times ahead. One of the questions RPNA is getting a lot is, “Do I have insurance coverage for this?” For those businesses that have purchased “business interruption” coverage,…
Support for AB 5 and its “ABC test” aimed at classifying more workers as employees rather than independent contractors appears to be growing due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The federal, state and local government restriction on businesses and mobility have vastly limited the availability of work. Independent contractors, who are not entitled to unemployment benefits…
Last week, on behalf of a group of qualified medical examiners (QMEs), Nicholas Roxborough sent a letter to the Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) to issue an emergency regulation specifically allowing QMEs to perform evaluations via telemedicine during the current COVID-19 outbreak, not only to keep the cases moving but also to protect the health and…
A court will hear the State Compensation Insurance Fund’s contention that its tiered rating system algorithm was appropriately filed with the California Department of Insurance. State Fund convinced the court to reject requests by the CDI and an employer to deny State Fund’s petition– but just barely. The case affects the tier modifiers; it applied…
RPNA is at the forefront of protecting employers from all aspects concerning the workers compensation program. However, when Governor Gavin Newsom proposed an $18 billion budget, a little noticed provision also included millions of dollars more for the Department of Industrial Relations (“DIR”). It is obvious that California employers can expect more investigations of worker…
For over 30 years, the law firm of Roxborough, Pomerance, Nye & Adreani has been defending the rights of employers, Primary Treating Physicians, and Qualified Medical Evaluators against discrimination, fraud, and malfeasance by California’s powerful workers compensation carriers, third party administrators, and even the Division of Workers Compensation. Recently, Mr. Roxborough and his firm defended…
In yet another decision which diverges from federal interpretations of wage laws, the California Supreme Court held that the time employees spent at the end of each shift for an onsite security check was compensable under the applicable wage orders. In Frlekin v. Apple, employees sued Apple for the implementation of its “Employee Package and…