Summaries and analysis of new case law dominated Bradford and Barthel’s list of Top 10 Blogs of the Year, as practitioners saw more noteworthy decisions than usual in 2025.
We at the Law Offices of Bradford and Barthel write about many topics, ranging from “how to” and educational pieces, to blogs about breaking news and developments. This past year we saw more citable and noteworthy decisions from the powers that be than we have in prior years.
The other notable trend that was a common theme among our blogs was rising costs at the Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund and in Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau studies.
Here is a look back at the firm’s top 10 posts from 2025 that are definitely worth revisiting.
NEW CASE LAW
Courts issued a number of new precedential decisions in 2025. Here’s some of the top blogs about breaking case law in 2025.
2nd DCA Strikes Down Patterson Doctrine in Published Decision
A defendant’s decision to authorize medical care should not prevent them from submitting future requests for authorization for the same treatment to utilization review, the 2nd District Court of Appeal ruled in a new published decision that agreed with arguments made by the Law Offices of Bradford and Barthel.
Sandhagen Is Dead! Is Dubon II on the Way Out?
In this blog post, founding partner Don Barthel explains why the 2nd DCA’s published decision in Rodriguez could mean the end of the line of case law from Dubon I and II.
3rd DCA: Accident Claim Barred by Going and Coming Rule
A recent Court of Appeal decision involving the going and coming rule offers an opportunity to explore the often-misunderstood area involving injuries sustained during commutes to remote workplaces.
4th DCA: Contract Isn’t Always Enough for Jurisdiction on Sports Claims
A single contract of hire made in the state of California is not sufficient to give the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board jurisdiction over all sports claims filed by an athlete against non-California teams, the 4th District Court of Appeal ruled in a published decision on Tuesday.
En Banc: WCAB Retains Jurisdiction Over Replacement Panels
The Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board clarified that parties in a represented case cannot automatically replace a QME who is not scheduling re-evaluations in a timely manner, according to an en banc decision released on Monday afternoon.
En Banc Clarifies Policy Reporting Requirements
The Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board issued an en banc decision clarifying what policy information defendants must produce amid a confusing array of case law and regulations.
Personal Appearances at Trial: Are They Really Necessary?
In the recent case of Dominguez v. Shield Platinum Production, LLC, the WCAB overturned the trial judge’s order directing the claims adjuster and the adjuster’s supervisor to appear at an in-person lien trial.
RISING COSTS AND TRENDS
Reports of alarming rising costs from the Workers’ Compensation Insurance and Ratings Bureau (WCIRB) and Subsequent Benefits Injuries Trust Fund (SIBTF) dominated the workers’ compensation news cycle in 2025, and will probably be the subject of many more headlines in 2026. Here’s some of our best blogs on those topics:
Comp Costs Hit Highest Combined Ratio Since 2001, WCIRB Says
Workers’ compensation costs have hit their highest numbers in more than 20 years, according to a Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau report released earlier this month.
Governor Promises Major SIBTF Reforms in 2026
Gov. Gavin Newsom warned that he will push for changes to the Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund (SIBTF) in 2026, according to the governor’s veto message of a bill that would have changed how the fund operates.
LEGISLATION
2025 Recap: QME Template Bill Headlines Legislative Session
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a number of smaller bills into law during the 2025 legislative session, but perhaps the bill with the widest impact could be a bill requiring a template for all qualified medical evaluator reports.
Got a question about workers’ compensation defense issues? Feel free to contact John P. Kamin. Mr. Kamin is a workers’ compensation defense attorney and equity partner at Bradford & Barthel’s Woodland Hills location, where he monitors the recent legislative affairs as the firm’s Director of the Editorial Board. Mr. Kamin previously worked as a journalist for WorkCompCentral, where he reported on work-related injuries in all 50 states. Please feel free to contact John at jkamin@bradfordbarthel.com or at (818) 654-0411.
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