WCPanelIQ
PanelGranted in Part

Bianucci, Michael

MICHAEL BIANUCCI, Applicant vs. TEXAS RANGERS; ANGELS BASEBALL LP; ACE AMERICAN INSURANCE, administered by SEDGWICK RIVERSIDE, Defendants

ADJ number
ADJ15824668
Decision date
Aug 4, 2024
District office
Santa Ana
WCJ
Nate Halprin
Claim administrator
Sedgwick Riverside (administering for Ace American Insurance)
Commissioners
—

Injury / body parts: head, neck, shoulders, back, spine, hips, elbows, wrists, hands, legs, knees, ankles, feet, toes, internal, ENT/TMJ, neuro/psyche, hearing, vision, sleep, chronic pain

LC §3600.5LC §5305CCR §10961

Summary

Professional baseball player Michael Bianucci claimed cumulative trauma injury (CT 6/1/2008-10/6/2015) while playing for various teams, including significant time with the Texas Rangers' California affiliate, the Bakersfield Blaze, where he played at least 170 games and all practices exclusively in California during the latter half of 2009 and all of 2010. Defendants sought reconsideration of the WCJ's finding that California had subject matter jurisdiction, arguing that Labor Code section 3600.5(d) controls and bars the claim rather than section 3600.5(a). The WCAB panel granted reconsideration but largely affirmed the WCJ, agreeing that subject matter jurisdiction was proper under section 3600.5(a) because applicant was regularly working in California during a significant portion of the CT period. The panel disagreed only with the WCJ's finding regarding contract formation, amending the findings to state it is unclear where the contract between applicant and the Los Angeles Angels was formed, because applicant's trial testimony was ambiguous about whether the contract formed orally in Mexico or in San Diego.

Issues

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Holding

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Analysis

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Applicant takeaway

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Defense takeaway

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Provider takeaway

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