Author: SRTK Shareholders

Vahe Tchoukadarian Named To 2022’s Super Lawyers Rising Stars

SRTK is pleased to announce that Vahe Tchoukadarian, of SRTK’s Corona office, was recently named to Thomson Reuters 2022 Southern California list of Super Lawyers “Rising Stars.”

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Recent Important Changes At Our Firm

Clients and Friends of the Firm,
In light of the recent retirements of SRTK shareholders practicing in Northern California, and considering our ability to remotely handle cases as a result of CA’s post-pandemic workers’ compensation landscape, we have decided to consolidate our operations to our Southern California offices.

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Join SRTK for a Special PARMA Southern California Chapter Meeting on Workers’ Compensation Topics

The PARMA SoCal chapter meeting on May 24th will present an opportunity for risk managers and other claims professionals to learn from seasoned attorneys and earn CE/MCLE credit.

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Christine Elliott Wins Voluntary Dismissal of COVID Workers’ Compensation Claim Before Trial

Christine Elliott was able to secure the voluntary dismissal of a COVID claim after aggressively pushing the matter to Trial. The COVID allegations did not qualify for any statutory presumptions, and the case was denied based on lack of evidence that applicant contracted COVID at work.

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Join SRTK for WorkPartners’ ELEVATE 2022 Workers’ Compensation & Leadership Conference

SRTK will be attending WorkPartners’ 2022 ELEVATE conference in San Diego, and we hope to see you there! Look for Mya Gibson (Senior Associate), Marni Kulberg, and Melissa Downing, our Director of Client Services, at the conference on April 19th.

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Join SRTK for the Association of Workers’ Compensation Professionals (AWCP) “Spring Forward Into Case Law Update” Virtual Mini Conference, April 21, 2022

SRTK is a proud supporter of the Association of Workers’ Compensation Professionals, and is pleased to present AWCP’s Spring virtual mini conference. “Spring Forward into Case Law Update” will feature speakers that include SRTK Shareholders Aaron Hemmings and Jerry Rempel, and Anastasiya Franco and Jennifer Kranbuhl.

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Find SRTK at the RIMS 2022 Conference & Expo in San Francisco!

SRTK will be attending the RIMS 2022 RiskWorld conference “A World of Potential,” April 10-13 in San Francisco. The three-day conference will offer attendees 100+ sessions on trending topics for all levels — from career development to claims management.

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Jesse Peck Secures Noteworthy Victory in Decision on Reconsideration in Retroactive Temporary Total Disability Workers’ Compensation Case

Jesse Peck of SRTK’S Orange Office recently achieved an excellent result on a retro TTD issue for our client via Reconsideration. In fact, the Decision on Reconsideration was designated as a “Noteworthy Panel Decision”

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SRTK and MacroPro & Friends Present “May the Fourth Be With You,” a Day of Educational Sessions with 6 CEU Credits Available

Join SRTK and MacroPro & Friends on May 4th for a special Star Wars-themed day of education, networking, and fun! This special event’s educational programming will provide attendees with up to 6 CEU credits.

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Martin Vardanyan Wins at Trial in Workers’ Comp Case Involving Retroactive TD

The case involved a 57 year old caregiver who sustained an admitted orthopedic injury. After a two-day trial, Martin was able to prove to the satisfaction of the court that the work restrictions were offered and accepted those same restrictions for the compensable industrial body parts.

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SRTK is a Proud Sponsor of the 2022 Executives in Workers’ Compensation Golf Tournament

SRTK is proud to be sponsoring the driving range at the Executives in Workers’ Compensation conference’s first annual Golf Tournament! We hope you will join us there for an exciting day of golf contests and prizes, with breakfast and a dinner awards buffet included!

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Joanne Thomas to Present “Risks, Rewards & Results of Service Providers” at CSIA’s 2022 Annual Meeting & Conference

This year’s CSIA conference will be in person – at Disneyland. Joanne Thomas will speak as part of the keynote panel, “Risks, Rewards & Results of Service Providers,” an examination of issues that anyone in the workers’ compensation field should know about.

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Anastasiya Franco Presents “Workers’ Compensation: An Overview From Employer’s Perspective” as a Live Webinar for the Orange County Bar Association, Wednesday, February 23, 2022

This program will provide an overview of the Worker’s Compensation system in California from the employer’s point of view. The webinar has been approved for 1.0 hours of MCLE credit for attendees.

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Congratulations to David Chun, SRTK’s new President and CEO!

David has been with the firm since 1999, became a Shareholder in 2007, and is Managing Shareholder of the firm’s Fresno office. As Chair of the Diversity Committee, he also leads the firm’s efforts in fostering a welcoming, inclusive, and diverse workplace.

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Updated Requirements for Workplace Postings Offer Employers Flexibility

Employers adjusting to a remote workforce or who have employees who do not often come into the office still maintain a duty to post notices in the workplace, including under LC 3550/8CCR 9881. Pursuant to the newly-adopted LC 1207, effective 1/1/22 employers may now ALSO email the information to employees.

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Kathleen Roberts Earns Take Nothing In Workers’ Compensation Claim Past The Statute Of Limitations

Kathleen Roberts of SRTK’s San Jose office recently secured a big win, earning a “take nothing” in a case where the Applicant had an admitted knee injury and was given surgery. The Applicant Attorney didn’t like the QME’s rating, and decided to file a second date of injury which would have allowed him to get a new panel.

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Join SRTK at PARMA’s 2022 Annual Conference, “The Carnivale of Risk,” Feb. 27 – March 2

SRTK is a proud supporter and member of the Public Agency Risk Management Association (PARMA), and invites you to join us for “The Carnivale of Risk,” the organization’s first California conference since the beginning of the pandemic.

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David Chun to Present “Employer Workers’ Compensation Defense in the Pandemic Age – Tips and Pitfalls” at AgSafe’s Annual Conference

David Chun will present “Employer Workers’ Compensation Defense in the Pandemic Age – Tips and Pitfalls” on Thursday, February 17th as part of Activate22, AgSafe’s 2022 annual conference in Monterey.

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2021 Fourth Quarter Newsletter

Read our 2021 Third Quarter Newsletter!

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Join SRTK and MacroPro & Friends on 3/23/22 for the CEU Event “Education Hoe Down!”

SRTK and Macro-Pro & Friends present “Education Hoe Down!” an in-person event featuring a full day of networking and educational programming with 6 CEU credits available.

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SRTK Proudly Supports Local Animal Shelters and Rescues – Join us in Our 2022 Towel & Blanket Drive!

This year’s Towel & Blanket Drive will conclude the week of Valentine’s day, with drop-off boxes at all of our Southern California offices. Please contact our Director of Client Services, Melissa Downing, for more information or to donate.

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Join SRTK and B&BB for a Special Galentine’s Brunch Event, February 12, 2022

SRTK is proud to sponsor the upcoming “Women, Wine & Galentine,” an upcoming brunch event hosted by Beauty & Beast in Business. If you are interested in attending, please contact Director of Client Services Melissa Downing.

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Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) New Updated Final Rules In Effect Beginning January 1, 2022

Califonia’s Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) has formalized its Rules of Practice and Procedure regarding remote hearings, electronic filing and service which were developed during the COVID pandemic, resulting in some new and updated rules. The new rules are effective January 1, 2022 and signal a shift to a more paperless (electronic) process for documents being served by both the court and by the parties.

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Join SRTK and MacroPro & Friends on 2/2/22 for the CEU Event “Saddle up and Ride”

Save the date! SRTK and Macro-Pro & Friends present “Saddle up and Ride,” an in-person event featuring a full day of networking and educational programming with 6 CEU credits available!

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Jerry Rempel Wins Big in an S&W Case Involving OSHA Citations

SRTK Shareholder Jerry Rempel recently secured a victory for a client where the applicant attempted to use OSHA citations in support of an S&W petition. Jerry was able to overcome that with employer testimony and a persuasive legal argument that the citation did not rise to the level of a serious violation which would invoke a presumption of a Serious & Willful act by the employer which would entitle the applicant to an automatic 50% increase in his recovery.

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Congratulations, Kathleen Roberts!

SRTK Shareholder Kathleen Roberts has been an inspiration and a great leader over her 25-year career with the firm, growing to lead our San Jose office and contributing her skills and knowledge not just to winning cases for our clients, but to helping her team grow and learn, and supporting the firm in too many ways to count.

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2021 Third Quarter Newsletter

Read our 2021 Third Quarter Newsletter!

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Save The Date! Join SRTK at Macro-Pro & Friends’ Holiday Vendor Faire!

Macro-Pro & Friends will be hosting a special virtual Vendor Faire for our clients, colleagues, and friends on December 1st. Don’t miss out on a festive and joyous celebration of all things workers’ compensation!

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Temporary Total Disability Rate Updates Announced, Effective January 1, 2022

The rate changes are pursuant to Labor Code Section 4453(a) (10), which requires that the maximum and minimum weekly earnings that determine TTD benefits be increased yearly, by a percentage equal to the increase in the State Average Weekly Wage (SAWW). Workers with injury dates on or after January 1, 2003 are entitled to have their weekly Life Pension (LP) or permanent total disability (PTD) benefits adjusted based on the updated data.

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SRTK Proudly Sponsors the LA RIMS Golf Tournament, October 27th, 2021

Join SRTK Associate Yan Falkinstein, and Director of Client Services Melissa Downing for a day of golf, and plenty of food and drink at Brookside Golf Club in Pasadena!

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Join SRTK and WorkCompCentral for the 2021 CompLaude Awards and Gala

SRTK is proud to sponsor the 2021 WorkCompCentral Comp Laude virtual event, featuring two days of networking, education sessions, awards, and more! Be sure to join us for coffee on the morning of November 5th!

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California’s Division of Workers’ Compensation Emergency Regulations for Medical-Legal Evaluations and Reporting Extended Through January 11, 2022

On October 4, 2021, California’s Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) announced that emergency regulations §§ 36.7 and 46.2 have been extended through January 11, 2022. Below is a summary of what the emergency regulations provide.

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Join SRTK in Las Vegas for the 2021 National Workers’ Compensation Defense Conference, NationalComp, October 20-22!

Join us in Las Vegas for the National Workers’ Compensation and Disability Conference, NationalComp, and be sure to find us at booth #658. We’ll be on-site at the conference and in the Expo hall throughout the event, and look forward to seeing you there!

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Join SRTK and AWCP for a Special October Mini Conference and Beer Tasting Event!

The conference will provide two ½ hours of Continuing Education Units for Claims Examiners, Certified Case Managers, Nurses, and Attorneys (both MCLE and Legal Specialization in Workers’ Compensation). In addition to exhibiting at the conference, SRTK will be sponsoring the post-conference beer tasting networking event, with beer selections from Bike Dog Brewery.

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David Chun Announced As Panelist For Nixer Comp’s Webinar “The Benefits Of Post Offer Medical Questionnaires In Workers’ Compensation”

SRTK Shareholder David Chun will join Nixer Comp as a panelist for a special webinar this Thursday, September 16, 2021, titled “The Benefits Of Post Offer Medical Questionnaires In Workers’ Compensation.”

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Kathleen Roberts Earns Take Nothing In Grocery Worker Case Claiming Vacation Injury As Work-Related

Kathleen Roberts recently earned a take nothing in a grocery worker case.

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Join SRTK & The Workers’ Compensation Defenders at NWCDC in Las Vegas!

Join us in Las Vegas for two special events at the National Workers’ Compensation and Disability Conference! Find us in Las Vegas this October for NWCDC, and don’t forget to RSVP by September 30th to join SRTK and the Workers’ Compensation Defenders for lunch and an after-conference mixer on Wednesday, October 20th!

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SRTK Proudly Sponsors AWCP’s 22nd Annual Golf Tournament

SRTK is proud to support the Association of Workers’ Compensation Professionals’ 22nd Annual Golf Tournament as sponsor of the 15th hole!

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2021 Second Quarter Newsletter

Read our 2021 Second Quarter Newsletter!

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California Division of Workers’ Compensation Copy Service Price Schedule Amendment Gets Hearing Date

The California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) has set a public hearing for Monday, August 30th, 2021, at 10:00am, to amend the Copy Service Price Schedule. The proposed changes stand to significantly increase costs for medical-legal reports.

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Join Joanne Thomas for “Obtain Legally. Leverage Wisely.” as part of the Worker’s Compensation Insitute (WCI) Annual Conference

SRTK Shareholder Joanne Thomas will speak as part of the panel “Obtain Legally, Leverage Wisely: Investigation of Claims, 2021 and Beyond” on Tuesday, December 14th, 10:00AM – 11:00AM Eastern. The panel will cover tricks of the trade, as well as potential pitfalls in evidence gathering, as well as strategies for presenting surveillance to medical providers and using evidence in depositions to defend claims.

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Kathleen Roberts Earns Take Nothing In Trucker Case Alleging Psychiatric Injury Over Epithet

Kathleen Roberts, Managing Shareholder of SRTK’s San Jose office, recently earned a take nothing in a case involving a trucker who claimed a psychiatric injury following an incident involving an alleged racial slur. The claimant sought an estimated $40,000 in retroactive TTD over 18 months, and would have included an unknown percentage of PD, which had not yet been evaluated.

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SRTK Celebrates 42 years!

Today is our 42nd anniversary of being California’s leading workers’ compensation defense firm. Thank you to our clients and team members for your continued partnership, especially this past year!

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SRTK Is a proud sponsor of AWCP’s Virtual Mini Conference and Wine Tasting, July 29

SRTK is proud to present the Association of Workers’ Compensation Professionals (AWCP)’s virtual psych conference “Brian & Idea!” to be held July 29th, with a wine tasting event to follow.

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David Chun Joins AgSafe Panel Discussing COVID-19 Long Haulers, Return To Work Considerations

SRTK Shareholder David Chun will be featured as a speaker as part of a panel discussion on return-to-work considerations for COVID-19 long-haulers, to be held Wednesday, June 23rd, from 9:00am to 10:30am PDT. Join Dave and other industry experts for an in-depth discussion of the complex issues surrounding individuals with long-term symptoms resulting from coronavirus infections.

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Harbiks Garabedi Named To 2021’s Super Lawyers Rising Stars

Harbiks Garabedi, of SRTK’s Woodland Hills office, was recently named to Thomson Reuters 2021 Southern California list of Super Lawyers “Rising Stars.” The list recognizes the top 2.5 percent of attorneys in the state, across more than 70 practice areas, who are either under 40 or have been practicing for less than 10 years.

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Join SRTK For A Virtual BBQ Workshop In Anticipation Of Father’s Day & July 4th!

SRTK is pleased to invite you to a virtual cookout event, sharing ideas, tips and tricks for getting your grill game on point for Father’s Day and July 4th! Get your barbecue on and join us, along with DentalWorks USA, EWC Conference, and Macro-Pro for this special lunchtime get-together with your workers’ compensation colleagues!

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California Legislature Compels Study On Workers’ Compensation Delays And Care Access Issues In Medical Provider Networks

The study, to be delivered no later than January 1, 2023, must compare data for injury claims in which workers were treated by a medical provider network (MPN) with the same data for those treated by doctors not part of an MPN.

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Aaron Hemmings Quoted In Business Insurance Article on Workers’ Compensation Fee Schedule Changes

SRTK Shareholder Aaron Hemmings was recently quoted in Andrea Childers’ Business Insurance article “Fee schedule changes could cost Calif. comp system $270M.” In the article, Angela discusses the potential impact of the new medical-legal fee schedule and regulations, which took effect on April 1, 2021.

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SRTK Proudly Presents “Understanding Knee Injuries: The Role of Physical Therapy in Work Comp,” A Free National Worker’s Compensation Webinar

SRTK is proud to join MKCM in sponsoring WorkCompCentral’s national webinar “Understanding Knee Injuries: The Role of Physical Therapy in Work Comp.” This essential webinar on workers’ compensation will provide insight into one of the most injured body parts, and how understanding these injuries can lead to better claims management and results. Attendees will earn an hour of CEU credit, and gain a deeper understanding of this critical area of workers’ compensation practice.

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