State Supreme Court Rejects Second Lawsuit on Workers’ Compensation Rules
The California Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected without comment a lawsuit filed by VotersInjuredatWork.org that attempted to challenge new workers' compensation rules, the Sacramento Bee reports. The California Applicants' Attorneys Association supports VotersInjuredatWork.org.
According to the Bee, the ruling "means the issue will have to first be decided in local workers' compensation courts" (Sacramento Bee, 7/14).
The new workers' compensation rules, which took effect June 10, require physicians to follow more stringent medical guidelines to assess a claimant's level of permanent disability. Physicians are required to use a new formula, which takes in account the loss of future earning potential, to calculate a cash payment (California Healthline, 6/16).
Last month, the court rejected a similar lawsuit by the California Labor Federation. In both cases, plaintiffs had alleged the new formula was illegal and would result in a significant reduction in benefits (Sacramento Bee, 7/14).