Calif. Death Benefits to Estates Unconstitutional

A California law that directs workers' compensation death benefits to the estates of deceased workers who have no dependents is unconstitutional, the California 2nd Court of Appeal ruled Monday in an opinion certified for publication. The court decided that Labor Code Section 4702, subdivision (a)(6)(B), is unconstitutional because Article XIV, section 4 of the California Constitution does not identify deceased workers' estates as a class of beneficiaries entitled to workers' compensation death benefits. "Awarding workers' compensation death benefits to an estate conflicts with the unde...