Court of Appeal indicates that temporary disability may not be paid more than five years after date of injury

• Posted By: Harvey Brown
• April 1, 2018

This is a published appellate decision

This is a very significant case for workers’ compensation principles.

The applicant suffered an injury to his right shoulder on July 31, 2010. He received a 12 percent permanent disability in 2011. He filed a petition to reopen in 2015.

On September 15, 2015 he applied for section 4850 benefits and temporary disability. This was more than 5 years from the date of injury. The employer contended he was not entitled to benefits under labor code section 4656, subdivision (c)(2).

The matter went to trial and a workers’ compensation judge (WCJ) ruled the applicant was entitled to befits beyond five years. The employer filed a petition for reconsideration and the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) in a split decision ruled the applicant was entitled to benefits beyond five years.

The appellate court reviewed section 4656. They also reviewed Radesky v. City of Los Angeles. They then reviewed Sarabi v. WCAB. Finally, they reviewed Nickelsberg v WCAB. They also reviewed the liberal construction doctrine of Labor Code section 3202.

The court of appeal indicated that section 4656, subdivision (c) (2) clearly and unambiguously provides that temporary disability shall not exceed 104 weeks form the date of injury. The relevant statutory language provides all temporary disability payments must be made within 5 years from the date of injury.

Case: County of San Diego v. WCAB (Pike)

• Posted In: Appeal, Disability