Category Archives: compensation
IS THE EMPLOYER RESPONSIBLE FOR INJURIES THAT OCCUR ON THE WAY TO OR FROM A MEDICAL APPOINTMENT?
An employer bears the risk of incurring compensability liability under the California Workers’ Compensation Act for an injury suffered in route to or from a medical appointment related to an existing compensable injury. If an employee suffers a new injury while traveling a reasonable distance, to or from a medical appointment for an existing… Read More »
NOT IN MY CAR: WHY THE REPAIR SHOP WILL BE LIABLE FOR A JOY RIDE
A coffee-run to my local Starbucks (Brockton and Arlington) prompted my last article about the liability of an automotive repair or service shop for damage to a vehicle left in its care. Since posting my last article, I am happy to report that I have not seen any other mechanics using customer’s cars to… Read More »
SHOULD SETTLEMENTS BE CONFIDENTIAL?
Heiting & Irwin You have sustained an injury or some form of damage, filed and prosecuted your Complaint, and have now reached a settlement with the adverse party. Upon receipt of the Settlement Agreement and Release, the defendant requests that the settlement be deemed confidential, that the nature of the settlement, its terms, and… Read More »
The Duty to Disclose STDs — The One that Never Goes Away
In a recent local case [Behr v. Redmond, (2011) 193 Cal. App. 4th 517], the plaintiff sued the defendant for damages arising from the alleged tortious transmission of genital herpes. Essentially, the plaintiff alleged that the defendant committed fraud when he misrepresented to her that he was free of STDs, knowing this to be… Read More »
WHEN TO REFORM TORT REFORM
Reform. A positive-sounding word connoting improvement and enhancement, Webster’s defines “reform” as “an amendment of what is defective, vicious, corrupt, or depraved; a removal or correction.” However, you can have too much of a good thing, and unfortunately, tort reform supporters don’t often realize the negative effect their efforts may have upon the lives… Read More »
YOUR RIGHT TO COUNSEL in CIVIL PROCEEDINGS
Heiting & Irwin You have likely heard or read on multiple occasions, the expression “you have the right to speak to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you…” (known as the Miranda warning). These are some of the rights of an individual charged with a crime. Criminals,… Read More »
Injured on the Job? File for State Disability Benefits!
For the majority of the California Workers’ Compensation injury claims there is now a 104 week limit for temporary total disability – compensation payments made to an injured worker while unable to work because of the injury. This benefit is paid based upon two-thirds of an employees’ average weekly wage (up to certain state… Read More »
Hazardous Recreational Activities
Imagine yourself on your day off, participating in your favorite recreational activity, on public property. Whether it’s mountain biking, kayaking, off-road motorcycling/four-wheeling, surfing, or water skiing, what is your recourse should you sustain an injury by participating in that activity? Generally speaking, the Government Code of the State of California provides that neither a… Read More »
WHO IS CHECKING YOUR STATUS?
The health info you post online could be used against you. Dislike! By Jessica Girdwain When you log on to Facebook, what do you post? Pics of you laughing with friends or frolicking on vacay? That’s what Nathalie Blanchard, a 30-year-old IBM technician from Granby, Quebec, did – and soon after, her disability insurance… Read More »
James Otto Heiting featured in the National Law Journal
Heiting & Irwin is proud to announce that James Otto Heiting has been featured in the National Law Journal’s recent article “Hard Times Make for Reluctant, Sometimes Angry, Jurors.” James Otto Heiting is the managing partner of Heiting & Irwin and has been practicing law since 1976. Mr. Heiting is admitted to practice before… Read More »
