CA WCAB: CIGA Has No Liability for Penalties Post 1/1/04

The California Workers' Compensation Appeals Board, En Banc, has ruled that the California Insurance Guarantee Association is not liable for any penalties of any defunct carrier post January 1, 2004.In Martinez vs. Jack Neal & Son, Inc.; CIGA, et. al., etc. (SRO 0107686, 07/27/04) applicant, Jose L. Martinez, sustained industrial injury in 1999. The carrier at the time was Fremont. The Workers' Compensation Judge (WCJ) by Findings and Award dated 3/24/04 found that Fremont had unreasonably delayed the provision of medical benefits and imposed a 10 percent penalty on all medical benefits. Fremo...