By Posted on Posted in 1997 PDRS, 2005 PDRS, Author, Calculators, Cell Phones, Combined Values Chart, DFEC Rebuttal, Free, Ogilvie, PDRater, Technobabble, Website Updates, Workers Compensation Resources No Comments Tagged with , , , , , , , , , ,
Permanent disability calculators that will fit in your pocket!
Permanent disability calculators that will fit in any pocket!

I was at the San Jose WCAB on Friday.  Since recently discovering that I could run this website’s permanent disability rating calculators from my phone’s web browser, this was the first time I left my rating manual, money chart, and date wheel in the car. ((Photo courtesy of .robbie))

It was great.  That morning I used my phone to:

  • Find the ADJ number associated with the legacy SJO number on my file
  • Calculate an Ogilvie adjustment of a rating string
  • Calculate the number days between two dates
  • Perform old and new schedule ratings
  • Perform a CVC (combined values chart) calculation ((Oh, and I called my client at one point.  Ha!))

The benefit for me is not so much that I don’t have to carry the rating manuals, dollar value charts, and date wheels.  Unlike these tools, my phone is not something I’m going to misplace or loan and never see again.

The best part is that if I want to refer back to the calculation I just performed, I can just e-mail it to myself!

By Posted on Posted in 1997 PDRS, 2005 PDRS, AJAX, Average Weekly Wage, Calculators, Cell Phones, Free, Javascript, PDRater, Technobabble, Website Updates, Workers Compensation Resources No Comments Tagged with , , , , , , , ,
This phone will not run PDRater calculators, but yours might!
This phone will not run PDRater calculators, but yours might!

I recently discovered that installing the Opera Mini web browser on my “smartphone” has allowed me to run this website’s workers’ compensation calculators from my phone. ((Photo courtesy of storm gal))

Since launching this website I’ve given a lot of thought to support for cell phones.  There just are not many phones that can run these calculators. ((It would be more correct to say there are not many phones that support javascript and AJAX well enough to interact with this website in a meaningful fashion.)) The glaring and notable exception is the iPhone.

Amusingly, one of this website’s users has asked for an “iPhone app” version of this site.  Seriously, you’ve got one of the few phones that can use this site and that’s not good enough for you?  (Thanks Chris!)

This is huge.  It means:

  • I can blog from the Board ((Probably a lot more interesting for me than it is for you…))
  • More importantly, no more bulky money charts or rating manuals at the Board!

By Posted on Posted in Case Law, Downloads, Workers Compensation Resources No Comments Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Smith/Amar Reversed
Smith/Amar Reversed

Oral argument on Smith v. WCAB (California Youth Authority) went forward on Smith out that on April 7, 2009.  Today, we have the result – Smith/Amar has been unanimously reversed by the California Supreme Court in case number S150528.  Download a copy and read it for yourself here:

For more background on Smith/Amar, check out my prior post discussing the oral argument.

By Posted on Posted in 2005 PDRS, Almaraz / Guzman, AMA Guides, Ogilvie, PDRater, Workers Compensation Resources No Comments Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Appeal (get it?)
Appeal (get it?)

Thanks to our friends at AppealsBoardReporter.com, we now have access to 22 amicus briefs filed in the Ogilvie and Almaraz/Guzman cases.  ((Photo courtesy of Black Glenn.  Terrible pun courtesy of me.)) In late March 2009 the WCAB granted reconsideration of their recent Ogilvie and Almaraz/Guzman decisions – and invited the submission of amicus briefs.  You can read and download them here:

Who produced them?  Well, Ogilvie amicus briefs were filed by:

  • Morrow & Morrow
  • International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals
  • The Travelers Companies Inc.
  • Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner
  • California Workers’ Compensation Institute

The Almaraz/Guzman briefs were filed by:

  • California Applicants’ Attorneys Association
  • California Chamber of Commerce-CSAC Excess Insurance Authority
  • County of Los Angeles
  • California Self-Insured Employers Association
  • California Society of Industrial Medicine and Surgery
  • California Workers’ Compensation Institute
  • Department of Industrial Relations Director John Duncan
  • Employers Direct Insurance Company
  • Phil Walker, Esq.
  • Phil Walker, Judicial Notice Request
  • Protected Insurance Program for Schools
  • Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner
  • Safeway Inc.-The Boeing Co.-Schools Insurance Authority
  • San Diego Schools Joint Powers Authority
  • International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals
  • Morrow & Morrow
  • The Travelers Companies Inc.

After reviewing the above list, I have to wonder: Why doesn’t CAAA have an amicus brief for Ogilvie?  Does anyone know?

By Posted on Posted in Not Workers Compensation, PDRater No Comments Tagged with , , , , , , ,

I heard a song the other day that has just become my new theme song.  “No Rest For The Wicked” by Cage the Elephant.  Here’s the chorus:

  • There ain’t no rest for the wicked
  • Money don’t grow on trees
  • I got bills to pay, I got mouths to feed
  • There ain’t nothing in this world for free
  • I know I can’t slow down, I can’t hold back
  • Though you know I wish I could
  • Oh no, there ain’t no rest for the wicked
  • Until we close our eyes for good.”

A little bleak for this Friday, but ever so appropriate.

Those who know me know my last theme song was also my ringtone…

Cage The Elephant
Cage The Elephant