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CAAAments

2006 - 2007 Officers

President Linda Atcherley, Esq.

As a 1981 graduate of University of California San Diego, President Atcherley received her Juris D octorate from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in 1989. As a long-standing member of CAAA, President Atcherley has served on the Board of Governors and is a Past-President, San Diego chapter. President Atcherley is a certified specialist in Workers' Compensation, and a partner in Atcherley & Levine. President Atcherley is an active member, WILG, CAOC, and has been a featured speaker on Workers' Compensation issues.

President-Elect Susan R. Borg, Esq.

1985 alumna of the University of San Francisco School of Law, Susan Borg has been a managing partner in DuRard, McKenna and Borg of San Mateo since 1990. From 1992 through 1995, Susan served on the State Bar Executive Committee on Workers Compensation. (more ...)

Treasurer Todd McFarren, Esq.

Todd McFarren is a certified specialist in workers compensation, immediate past president of WILG, and partner in the law firm of ROLM. He studied Philosophy, B.A., M.A and Political Science ,M.A. at Kent State University. He received his J.D. from  the the University of San Francisco. He is editor of "Workplace Injury Litigation" (Lawyers & Judges Publishing Co.) and coeditor  of "New Solutions: Assessing Workers Compensation". (more ...)

Secretary Adam Dombchik, Esq.

Adam Dombchik is a partner in the law firm of Gordon, Edelstein, Krepack, Grant, Felton & Goldstein.  He belongs to the State and Los Angeles County Bar Associations. Dombchik was a Delegate in 2002 and '03 to the State Bar's Conference of Delegates, and co-chaired the County Bar's Barristers Networking committee in 1999.  (more ...)

President's Message

Dear Members:

As I take over the reins of the California Applicant 's Association I recall the words of President Roosevelt "There is a mysterious cycle in human events. To some generations much is given. Of other generations much is expected. This generation has a rendezvous with destiny." The California Applicants' Attorneys have met the expectations through the years. With the advent of SB899, the Association has risen to the challenge and is turning that disaster on its head. In fact, we ended this legislative session getting a bill no one was interested in out of the Legislature and onto the Governor 's desk, where unfortunately, it was vetoed. However, this organization and its members have been taking the battle to the courts where their successes are astounding. Witness the Dykes and Nabors cases as well as the cases such as Aldi, Chilton, and their progeny interpreting the Labor Code Section § 4660 exceptions broadly so as to allow the pre-1/1/2005 cases to be rated under the pre 1/1/2005 rating schedule as is appropriate. We also have had successes in utilizing the testimony of vocational experts to show earning capacity losses to get ratings about the AMA Guideline ratings. Currently, the Costa case is in front of the WCAB where the legality of the schedule is being challenged.

In large measure, these successes are due to the exceptional efforts of the people on the education committee and the SB899 Committee and others who work ceaselessly at making sure that each practitioner has the tools to fight the evils wrought by SB899. CAAA is on a roll and is not going to stop.(more ...)

Legislative Report The last week of August 2006 was a busy one for CAAA's legislative advocates and the Executive Board. The first three days saw us visiting the offices of every assembly Democrat to discuss with the member or staff the most important bill to our clients: SB 815, Senator Perata's bill to restore some fairness to the permanent disability system. This bill would have doubled the number of weeks of permanent disability for injuries on and after January 1, 2007, and phased in basis over 2007, 2008 and 2009. While we were fairly certain of its passage in the Senate, we wanted to make sure to acquaint members of the Assembly of its intent and effect. Assemblymember Sally Lieber was the floor jockey (more ...)

Med-Legal Report Section 4660(a), the implementing permanent disability section calls for the calculation of "an" employee's diminished future earning capacity.

Prior to SB899, § 4660(a) used a different standard. It used "diminished ability of such injured employee to compete in an open labor market" as the overall standard for determining permanent disability benefits. That standard has now been changed pursuant to SB899 to require the overall standard to be "an employee's diminished future earning capacity". (more ...)

Convention Report CAAA's educational programs have a long tradition of excellence. Our seminars enjoy a national reputation for advanced advocacy. The June convention in Monterey stood squarely in that legacy of legal learning. We started with avoiding the Minotaur in the QME process (Borah, Swift, and Johnson). Next, we turned to the interpenetration of FEHA and WC (more ...)

Golf Report The summer convention golf tournament took place at a new venue, the Black Horse golf course. This is one of the two military courses, in the area. It was a challenge just to get to this course, given the fog and the road construction going on; however, everybody had a great time. The tournament results were as follows: (more ...)


        Phil Angelides Fundraiser

(more ...)

 

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