• Specific vs. cumulative trauma

• AOE/COE (Arising Out of / In the Course of Employment)

• Presumptive injuries, especially in public safety roles.

Analyze the legal framework surrounding statutes of limitation in workers’ compensation claims:

• Employer notice requirements

• Timeliness of injury reporting

• Strategic uses of statute defenses.

Recognize the procedural requirements and nuances of claim initiation and notice obligations:

• Claim forms

• Notice of potential eligibility

• Proper posting and employee notification duties.

Apply legal concepts such as:

• Apportionment of disability

• Post-termination claims

• Knowledge of injury in cumulative trauma claims.

Evaluate and strategize around multiple employer exposure and election of defendants in complex CT claims:

• Joint and several liability

• Contribution rights and defenses.

Navigate litigation issues involving the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB):

• Evidentiary burdens

• Notice requirements

• Judge discretion and defense strategies

Understand the evolving medical management landscape in California:

• Historical reforms from “dueling docs” to MTUS and Independent Medical Review (IMR)

• Use and oversight of Medical Provider Networks (MPNs).

Identify and mitigate problems related to lien abuse, fraud, and over-treatment through utilization review and statutory reforms.

Interpret key sections of the Labor Code and understand their practical applications:

• Labor Code §3208.1 (definition of injury)

• Labor Code §5412 (CT injury date determination)

• Labor Code §5500.5 (liability periods in CT claims).

Employ practical litigation skills, including:

• Conducting effective depositions

• Identifying red flags in medical and employment records

• Preparing for WCAB trials and arbitrations