Duncan Asks WCAB to Vacate Almaraz/Guzman and Ogilvie

Department of Industrial Relations Director John Duncan on Thursday asked the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board to vacate its recent decisions in the Almaraz/Guzman and Ogilvie cases, which critics fear will drive up workers' comp costs by putting subjectivity back into permanent disability award decisions.“These decisions already are having substantial impact both on the administration of the workers’ compensation adjudication system and on the level of workers’ compensation benefits due injured workers,” Duncan said in the letter. "Recently, for example, the...