High Court Overturns Denial of Benefits for Overdose; Wrong Causation Standard Used

The California Supreme Court ruled Thursday that an appellate court incorrectly applied the causation standard for tort cases when it vacated an order awarding death benefits to the family of a man who overdosed on prescription drugs. The 4th District Court of Appeal said a drug Brandon Clark was prescribed following a 2008 work injury likely played a role in his June 2009 overdose, but his estate failed to prove proximate causation to his work comp claim because the drug was not a "material factor contributing" to his death. "In doing so, it appeared to use the term 'mate...