Industry Insights
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Barthel: The 'Please Don't Try This at Work' Exception | 07/20/2026 | |
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| State: CA | Segment: WEST | 0 | |||
| When determining whether a psychiatric impairment may be compensable, it’s important to understand the “violent act” exception. ...Read More | |||
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Barthel: Does Accuracy of WCJ Credibility Assessments Justify Using Them as Lie Detectors? | 07/15/2026 | |
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| By: Donald R. Barthel | |||
| State: CA | Segment: WEST | 0 | |||
| How well can judges assess a witness’s credibility, and how important does the WCAB believe it is for a WCJ to have the opportunity to apply its presumably well-honed baloney barometer? The answers may surprise you. ...Read More | |||
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Burns: Appellate Review of the Trial Record: Limitations and Obligations | 06/03/2026 | |
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| State: CA | Segment: WEST | 0 | |||
| A recent unpublished decision addressed the limitations of the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board to substitute findings of fact in the appellate process. ...Read More | |||
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Barthel: Challenging Dishonesty in the Work Comp System | 04/20/2026 | |
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| By: Donald R. Barthel | |||
| State: CA | Segment: WEST | 0 | |||
| The Buddha reportedly said, “Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.” ...Read More | |||
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Barthel: Even Super Bowl Winners May Lose in Comp | 02/18/2026 | |
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| State: CA | Segment: WEST | 0 | |||
| Approximately 135 million viewers around the world tuned in to watch the New England Patriots (again!) take on the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara for Super Bowl LX. ...Read More | |||
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Bair: Leaning Into Liens | 02/02/2026 | |
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| By: Jessica E. Bair | |||
| State: CA | Segment: WEST | 0 | |||
| Ah, good old liens. Love them or hate them, they are a major component of workers’ compensation claims, and failure to timely address them can result in tens of thousands of dollars being owed by claims adjusters. ...Read More | |||
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Barthel: How Hard Can Intoxication Defense Be? | 01/30/2026 | |
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| By: Donald R. Barthel | |||
| State: CA | Segment: WEST | 0 | |||
| Though seemingly a simple defense, intoxication oftentimes trips up unsuspecting defendants. ...Read More | |||
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Barthel: Is Rodriguez Worth It? | 01/16/2026 | |
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| By: Donald R. Barthel | |||
| State: CA | Segment: WEST | 0 | |||
| “Lies, damned lies, and statistics” is a famous phrase used to describe the persuasive power of numbers to bolster weak arguments and mislead an audience. ...Read More | |||
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Barthel: Is SIBTF a Great Idea Gone Awry? | 01/05/2026 | |
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| By: Donald R. Barthel | |||
| State: CA | Segment: WEST | 0 | |||
| Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time. ...Read More | |||
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Barthel: Are You an Employer, or Do You Use Independent Contractors? Can You Prove It? | 12/24/2025 | |
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| By: Don R. Barthel | |||
| State: CA | Segment: WEST | 0 | |||
| As California’s Assembly Bill 5, AB 2257, Proposition 22 and the millions of dollars poured into that campaign have all demonstrated, whether a hiring party can prove that a worker is an independent contractor makes all the difference in the world. ...Read More | |||
