Workers’ compensation premiums, or the amount an employer pays to an insurance company in exchange for the carrier providing medical treatment and compensation to employees in the event of workplace accidents, are audited at the end of the policy term. Before the policy becomes effective, workers’ comp insurance companies prepare an initial estimate of premiums,…
DetailsWorkers’ compensation insurance, the nation’s oldest social insurance, protects employees and employers if an employee is injured while on the job. If employees get hurt or are sick because of work, an employer must pay workers’ compensation benefits, and those benefits are typically paid through insurance. Because this insurance affects nearly all California employers and…
DetailsWhile a predetermined formula sets workers’ compensation insurance premiums, employers often dispute the amounts of the premiums they are asked to pay and it’s no surprise as to why: Insurance premiums are one of the many challenging costs for California employers. In fact, according to a 2014 report, California is the most expensive state for…
DetailsThe 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.
A leading insurance trade journal, Workers’ Comp Executive, has named RPNA’s Nick Roxborough and his work involving employer battles against insurance carriers—in this instance, Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary Applied Underwriters—as the No. 1 story in 2017. Roxborough was identified as one of two attorneys “leading the fight in cases against Applied.” RPNA is proud…
DetailsRPNA’s suit against the Department of Industrial Relations (Howard v DIR) was yesterday’s WorkCompCentral’s top story, and is being followed by the entire California QME community, as well as various governmental entities. Central to this continuing story is the issue of jurisdiction over the case, which is being challenged by Nicholas Roxborough on behalf of…
DetailsThe California Department of Insurance (CDI) just issued a ruling that is expected to speed up the resolution of many cases currently against Applied Underwriters. These cases address the same issues that the CDI had ruled on more than a year ago, which left in place the precedential decision in the Shasta Linen case and…
DetailsTwo qualified medical evaluators (QMEs) who where challenging the Division of Workers’ Compensation’s decision not to renew their certifications were recently granted a trial on February 6, 2018. At that time, the Los Angeles Superior Court is expected to rule on whether or not the Division is using “underground regulations” to justify denying recertification to…
DetailsJust as forming a business partnership under California law requires completion of certain tasks, ending a partnership is also a process. General partnerships, where there is no specific end date, must be dissolved using three basic steps. These steps apply when partners voluntarily agree to dissolve the partnership. Where partners cannot agree, legal action is…
DetailsReports of sexual harassment in various California workplaces are in the news almost daily, due, in part, to the recent Hollywood scandals regarding some of the industry’s biggest players. Thankfully for California employers, there are three general steps employers can take to reduce the likelihood of becoming part of the headlines.
