About CAAA

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The California Applicants' Attorneys Association (CAAA) is the most powerful, and most knowledgeable legal voice for the injured workers of California. Serving California's injured workers since 1966, CAAA has been built with the support of its members who recognized the necessity of an active voice for injured workers.

CAAA is instrumental in providing the California injured worker the opportunity for fair workers' compensation benefits and re-entry into the community as a productive citizen. The support of CAAA's members help to provide the optimum ability for CAAA to continue its distinguished tradition.

CAAA's Board of Governors consists of officers, members-at-large, past presidents, committee chairs and chapter presidents. Maintaining a diverse Board with a well-developed committee structure compliments the strength and growth of this organization. Twenty-three working committees of the Board assist in the efficient management of the California Applicants Attorneys Association.

Please contact the CAAA state office if you are interested in assisting or joining any of these committees or refer to your membership directory for the telephone numbers of the chairs.

Office hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Address: 1303 J Street, Suite 420 * Sacramento, CA 95814
Telephone: (916) 444-5155
Fax: (916) 444-0661
Email: caaa@caaa.org

Injured Workers' Hotline: (800) 459-1400

More CAAA links:

Organization Design

CAAA’s Board of Governors establishes the policies and procedures for the Association. Consisting of the organization’s officers, Members-at-Large, Past Presidents, Committee Chairs and Chapter Presidents, the Board encourages the widest possible participation and communication from all members of CAAA.

The more than twenty working committees of the Board assist in the efficient management of CAAA. They cover areas including: Amicus Curiae, Consumer Information Service, DIR, Education, Ethics, Health & Safety, IMC, Labor, Latino Issues, Law Office Management, Legislative, Media, Membership, Seminars, Special Projects, and Technology. These committees provide detailed resources and recommendations for action by the Board.

California Applicants’ Attorneys Association, Founded 1966

CAAA Staff

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Karen L. Locke
Executive Director

Karen L. Locke is the Executive Director of the California Applicants' Attorneys Association.

Mrs. Locke began overseeing the California Applicants' Attorneys Association in 1987 when she was appointed executive director.

Julie L. Chavez
Director of Education

v: (916) 444-5155
f: (916) 444-0661
e: jchavez@caaa.org

Responsibilities:

Conventions
- Speaker Liaison
- Syllabus Content Coordinator
Seminars
- Speaker Liaison
- Syllabus Content Coordinator
- Event Coordinator
Accreditation
- Legal Specialization
- DWC - Medical Credit
- MCLE
CAAA Historian
Committee Conference Calls
Education Coordination

Isabel Pires
Director of Technology & Marketing

v: (916) 444-5155
f: (916) 444-0661
e: bel@caaa.org

Responsibilities:

CAAA's Website Administrator
- Deposition Bank / Practice Tips
- Website Advertising
- Online Membership Directory
Conventions
- Exhibit Booths and Welcome Reception Coordinator
- Eugene Marias Awards Dinner Reception
- Advertising / Marketing / Sponsorship
- Education Liaison
All Statewide List Services (Lawnet) Administrator
Annual Steven H. Spindel Golf Classic and Casino Night
- Sponsorship and Registration
- Billing
Northern California Wine and Golf Classic
- Sponsorship and Registration
- Billing
Injured Workers' Consumer Information for Spanish Speaking
Online Education Access and Confirmations

Andrea W. Robertson
Membership, Amicus and 899 Committees

v: (916) 444-5155
f: (916) 444-0661
e: arobertson@caaa.org
voicemail: (916) 491-6685

Responsibilities:

Amicus Reports
899 Committee Liaison
Requests
- Amicus Curiae
- Letter in Support
- Publication/Depublication
Membership
- Database Updates
- Dues
- Recruitments and Retentio
Political Fundraisers
- Event Liaison
- Invitations
- Contribution Collection and Recording
CAAA-PAC (Political Action Committee)
- CAAA-SCC (Small Contributor Committee)
- CAAA Workers' Compensation Issues PAC

Nathalie Leplat
Receptionist - Bookstore and Convention Hotel Reservations

v: (916) 444-5155
f: (916) 444-0661
e: nathalie@caaa.org

Responsibilities:

Convention Hotel Reservations
Membership Information & Educational Registration Details
Contact for MCLE research
Injured Workers' Consumer Information Phone Line
Injured Workers' Attorney Search List
Educational Materials & Publication Orders
- Convention Audio & Syllabus
- Seminar Audio & Syllabus
- Impairment Rating Manuals
- Practice Tips
- AMA Guides
- "Pearls" of the AMA Guides to the Evaulation of Permanent Impairment 5th Edition

Rebecca Matulich
v: (916) 444-5155
f: (916) 444-0661
e: rebecca@caaa.org

Responsibilities:

Conventions
- Registrations & Confirmation letters
- Eugene Marias Awards Dinner Reservations
- Exhibit Booths and Welcome Reception Assistant Coordinator
- Billing
Seminars
- Registrations & Confirmation letters
- Registration for Online Programs
- Billing

Erica Ferrier

Chapter Liaison

v: (916) 444-5155
f: (916) 444-0661
email: erica@caaa.org

Responsibilities:

CAAA's Statewide Chapters
- Financial Fiscal Reports
- Chapter Notices
- All Chapter Banking including payables
- Convention CDs & Syllabus
- MCLE Credit Forms
- Chapter President's Annual Retreat Coordinator
- Monthly Chapter President Conference Call Moderator
CAAA Website Calendar Updates

Executive Board

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President, S. Bradley Chalk, Esq.

Mr. Chalk is a licensed attorney by The State Bar of California and certified as a Workers’ Compensation Specialist by the State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization. He earned his law degree at Gonzaga University School of Law in Spokane, WA. He majored in political science and philosophy at Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park, CA, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. Prior to attending college, he served in the U.S. Air Force as a firefighter.

In addition to serving on the Board of Directors for CAAA, he is the co-chair of the AMA Guides committee for both CAAA and the Workers’ Injury Law & Advocacy Group (WILG). He is past-president of the Northbay Workers’ Compensation Association, a non-partisan organization for the workers’ compensation community.

Brad represented employers and insurance carriers during his career before opening his own practice devoted to representing disabled people in the areas of workers’ compensation and social security disability. He is a member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR) and WILG. In addition to maintaining a busy solo law practice, he is a frequent lecturer at educational events regarding workers’ compensation issues including the proper use of the AMA Guides. Brad and his wife Robyn enjoy a diverse range of activities, including Bikram yoga, golf, and ballroom dancing.

S. Bradley Chalk, Esq.
Chalk Law Office
613 Fourth Street, Suite 204
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Phone: (707) 571-7400

President-Elect, Lawrence I. Stern

Partner in the law firm of Mallery & Stern, Los Angeles, CA. University of California, Los Angeles, CA. Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, CA. Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation. Legal Specialties: Workers’ Compensation, Third Party Litigation and Legal Malpractice. Member: State Bar of California. Member: California Applicants’ Attorneys Association, Treasurer CAAA Committee Member: Board of Directors, Policy Steering, Education, Fundraising, Legislative and Strategic Planning.

Lawrence I. Stern
Mallery & Stern
11835 West Olympic Blvd., Suite 1090
Los Angeles, CA 95404
Phone: (310) 473-0777

Treasurer, James G. Butler

Partner in the law firm Butler Viadro, LLP, Oakland, CA. UC Berkeley, BA. University of San Francisco School of Law, JD. Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation. Legal Specialties: Third Party Cases, Construction Injuries, Traumatic Brain Injuries and Personal Injury. Member: State Bar of California. Member: California Applicants’ Attorneys Association, Secretary. CAAA Committee Member: Board of Directors, Policy Steering, Education, PAC, Third Party Issues (Chair) and 899.

Author: Injured Worker Survival Guide, 1988 to present. (published annually)

James G. Butler
Butler Viadro, LLP
414 13th Street, 7th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: (510) 287-2400

Secretary, Bernardo de la Torre

A 1977 graduate of Loyola Marymount, Los Angeles, Ca. Bernardo received a B.A. in Sociology and a B.A. in Chicano Studies. He studied Law at UCLA. As a certified Spanish/English interpreter, Bernardo became interested in Workers' Compensation and has been an applicant attorney since 1987. Bernardo received the 2011 Mexican American Attorney of the Year in Los Angeles County.

Bernardo is currently the newest member of the CAAA Executive Board. He has been a Judge Pro Tem for the WCAB. Past and present positions include past president of LAMAAA chapter of CAAA, Chair on the Latino Issues Committee, and member of the Workers' Injury Law & Advocacy Group (WILG).

Bernardo de la Torre
Law Offices of Bernardo de la Torre
7640 Greenleaf Avenue
Whittier, CA 90602
Phone: (562) 945-8733

Legislative Chair, Barry Hinden, Esq.

A 1970 graduate from California State University, Northridge, Barry received a B.A. in Psychology and then followed with a Juris Doctorate from Southwestern University School of Law in 1974. Past and present positions have included Judge Pro Tem for the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board; Arbitrator for WCAB; Founding Advisory Board Member of California State University, Pomona, Workers’ Compensation Certificate Program; Vice President, National Kidney Foundation; Vice President Temple Emanuel, Beverly Hills; and many other organizations. He is a member of numerous legal associations, being especially active on the Education Committee of the California Applicants’ Attorneys Association and Education Chairman for the Southern California Chapter of CAAA 1997 – 1998.

Barry is a partner in the firm of Hinden & Breslavsky in Los Angeles, has been a featured speaker on Workers’ Compensation issues and has numerous publications in the field of Workers’ Compensation.

Barry H. Hinden, Esq.
Hinden & Breslavsky
4661 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90019
Phone: (323) 954-1800

Consultants

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Below are CAAA's Consultants

Mark Gerlach
Insurance Consultant
PO Box 1921,
Sutter Creek, CA 95685
+1 209-267-0675

Martha Escutia
The Senators Firm LLP
620 Newport Center Drive, Suite 1100,
Newport Beach, CA 92660
+1 949-209-9820

Mike Herald
1107 9th Street, Suite 801
Sacramento, CA 95814
+1 916 844-6263

Richie Ross
Ross Communications
1700 L Street,
Sacramento, CA 95814
+1 916-441-1995

Stephen K. Hopcraft
Communications Consulting
3551 N Street,
Sacramento, CA 95816
+1 916-457-5546

Specialties

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Asbestos Workers' Compensation Attorneys

Jerome Anderson Moore, Esq.
McCarthy, Johnson & Miller
595 Market Street, Suite 2200
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 882-2992 / (415) 882-29995 Fax

Alan Brayton, Esq.
Brayton Purcell, LLP
222 Rush Landing Road
Novato, CA 94948
(415) 898-1555 / (415) 898-1247 Fax

Howard Lehman, Esq.
Rose, Klein & Marias
801 South Grand Avenue, 11th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 626-0571 / (213) 623-7755 Fax

Scott Rubel, Esq.
Lerner, Moore, Silva, Cunningham & Rubel
141 N. Arrowhead Avenue, Suite 1
San Bernardino, CA 92408
(909) 889-1131 / (909) 884-5326 Fax

Federal Workers' Compensation Attorneys

Linda F. Atcherley, Esq.
Linda Atcherley & Associates
7851 Mission Center Court, Suite 250
San Diego, CA 92108
(619) 325-0969 / (619) 325-8558 Fax

George Benz, Esq.
Attorney at Law
PO Box 828
Oxnard, CA 93032
(805) 485-9929 / (805) 485-9884 Fax

Philip M. Cohen, Esq.
Attorney at Law
1550 Hotel Circle North, Suite 170
San Diego, CA 92108
(619) 297-5100

Mario Cruz, Esq.
Cantrell, Green, Pekich, Cruz & McCort
PO Box 1700
Long Beach, CA 90801
(562) 432-8421 / (562) 432-3822 Fax

Michael C. Grimes, Esq.
Law Offices of Michael C. Grimes
795 4th Avenue, Suite 207
Redwood City, CA 94063
(650) 261-1754 / (650) 261-1755 Fax

Romeo Uriarte, Esq.
Uriarte & Carr, LLP
436 14th Street, Suite 900
Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 271-88451 / (510) 271-8325 Fax

Tribal Workers' Compensation Attorneys

Charles Cleveland, Esq.
Cleveland & Metz
9330 Baseline Road, Suite 100
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91701
(909) 980-9703 / (909) 980-2013 Fax

Bernardo de la Torre, Esq.
Law Offices of Bernardo de la Torre
7640 Greenleaf Avenue
Whittier, CA 90602
(562) 945-8733 / (562) 696-10997 Fax

David Dugan, Esq.
Dugan & Rader
2445 5th Avenue, Suite 350
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 544-1506 / (619) 234-4553 Fax

Philip Flickinger, Esq.
Law Offices of Phillip Flickinger
PO Box 2627
Cathedral City, CA 92235
(760) 321-0929 / (760) 328-9188 Fax

Scott Rubel, Esq.
Lerner, Moore, Silva, Cunningham & Rubel
141 N. Arrowhead Avenue, Suite 1
San Bernardino, CA 92408
(909) 889-1131 / (909) 884-5326 Fax

Committees

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The more than twenty working committees of the Board assist in the efficient management of CAAA. They cover areas including: Amicus Curiae, Education, Ethics, Health & Safety, Labor, Latino Issues, Law Office Management, Legislative, Media, Membership, Seminars, Special Projects, and Technology. These committees provide detailed resources and recommendations for action by the Board.

Click on a committee below for more information:

Chapters

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Throughout the State, CAAA’s 19 chapters are designed and organized to serve members locally. Representing Central Coast, Central Valley, Chico, Coachella Valley, East Bay, Greater Inland Empire, Harbor Area, Los Angeles Metropolitan, Los Angeles Valley, Monterey Bay, Orange County, Redwood Empire, Sacramento Valley, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Clara County, Shasta, Southern California, Stockton, and the chapters provide frequent opportunities for continuing education, the exchange of information, and resources among members, along with quick and efficient communication throughout the organization. Excellent networking opportunities are available at local chapter levels, below are all of the links for chapter meeting details. If you would like to receive automatic emails from particular chapter meetings please email Erica Ferrier at erica@caaa.org with your full name, email address and the request chapters.

Click here to see all upcoming chapters meetings. Events can also be found on the CAAA calendar.

ATTN: Chapter Presidents if you need a chapter check request that form can be found in the members only section; under the members dropdown.

Click on a chapter below for more information on each chapter and their meeting schedules:

CAAAments

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CAAAments

The History of Workers' Compensation in California

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Workers' compensation programs were an outcome of the Progressive Era, when reformers responded to both labor and employer concerns about high rates of work-related injuries, insufficient compensation to injured workers, and continuing employer uncertainty about how to predict the costs related to these injuries. California's workers' compensation system was established in 1913 by the Boynton Act, which required that employers, with some exceptions such as the agricultural sector, provide workers' compensation benefits to their employees. Benefits for permanent disability, including permanent partial disability, were an essential part of the workers' compensation scheme.

In California, injured workers who have suffered some level of permanent disability begin to receive PPD benefits when (a) they have returned to work after an injury or (b) their condition is judged unlikely to improve further, even with additional medical treatment. PPD payments are meant to compensate workers for their disability, specifically for their lost ability to compete in the open labor market.

There are several reasons why California measures disability by this abstraction--lost ability to compete--rather than by simply looking at how much income a worker has lost. First, income loss frequently continues past the date when benefits are determined so that the total income loss cannot simply be added up. Second, workers' incentives to return to work could be weakened if their benefits were directly determined by the amount of income they lost. Third, determining benefits directly from lost income would poorly reward workers who show the most initiative in returning to work and would over-reward those who make the least effort.

Disability ratings are determined by a disability schedule that assesses the effect of scheduled injuries among workers in different occupations and adjusts for age. The higher the rating, the larger the number of weeks of benefits the worker receives, from 3 weeks for the lowest ratings to 694 weeks followed by lower-value life annuities for the highest. Permanent partial disability payments are based on the disability rating as well as on pre-injury wages; they have a ceiling of $230 per week for the highest disability ratings and $140 per week for the lowest.

The rating schedule includes virtually every form of disability, and ratings based on the schedule are deemed prima facie evidence of disability in any compensation proceeding. In practice, however, and for a variety of reasons, schedule-based computations of disability level can be the source of many disputes.

Subjective medical findings such as pain enter into the calculation of disability ratings.
Every factor determining disability ratings can be disputed in some circumstance.
The primacy of medical reports as the basis for awarding PPD benefits may transform the adjudication process into a contest between competing medical evaluations.

Litigation may be exacerbated by a statutory provision that entitles an employee to reimbursement for medical-legal expenses necessarilyincurred in making a claim, even if the claim is later deemed non-compensable. Expenses can include costs for x-rays, laboratory fees, diagnostic tests, medical records, medical reports, medical testimony, and legal fees necessary to prove a contested claim.

In 1989 and 1993, California implemented major statutory changes to address a broad range of workers' compensation issues. Highlights of these reforms include restructuring the medical-legal process, limiting compensability of psychiatric and post-termination claims, increasing benefit payments for moderate and serious disabilities, capping vocational rehabilitation payments, increasing fraud deterrence, and deregulating insurance rates.

It is still too early to assess the full effects of these reforms. Cases operating under the pre-1989 rules are still in the system; some that are subject to the 1989 rules, rather than the newer 1993 rules, are still open. But our interviews with system participants, described below, give some sense of how the reforms have affected the functioning and outcomes of the PPD system.

Join CAAA's Lawnet

2008-04-04T18:37:00Z

Are you a CAAA Regular member and want to join Lawnet, CAAA's list service forum?

Download the CAAA Listserve Agreement, sign it and fax it back to the CAAA state office (916) 444-0661.

If you have not submitted a valid email address, please contact the CAAA State Office (916) 444-5155 to submit one.

Click here to join Lawnet and select the forum you wish to join.

Complete information on the Lyris page.

As soon as your information has been verified, your account will be activated.

Questions? Contact Isabel Pires bel@caaa.org