WCPanelIQ
PanelRemanded

Hemsted, Deborah

DEBORAH HEMSTED, Applicant vs. UNITED INDIAN HEALTH SERVICES and TRIBAL FIRST INSURANCE, Defendants

ADJ number
ADJ10124964
Decision date
Aug 16, 2023
District office
Eureka
WCJ
—
Claim administrator
Tribal First Insurance
Commissioners
—

Injury / body parts: back, hips, shoulders, left wrist, musculoskeletal system

LC §5900LC §5902LC §5903LC §5904LC §5803

Summary

Applicant Deborah Hemsted, employed as a Medical Assistant III by United Indian Health Services (UIHS), claimed an industrial injury on September 24, 2014. UIHS, a tribal nonprofit serving multiple federally recognized tribes, asserted sovereign immunity to bar WCAB jurisdiction. The WCJ first issued a December 2, 2016 decision finding UIHS could assert sovereign immunity but reserving the waiver question, then in a June 21, 2019 decision found sovereign immunity had been waived by the tribes and the WCAB had jurisdiction. On reconsideration, the Appeals Board held the December 2016 decision was interlocutory (not final), and that the WCJ never applied the correct legal framework—the five-factor 'arm of the tribe' test from People v. Miami Nation Enterprises (2016) 2 Cal.5th 222. The Board rescinded both decisions and remanded for a new determination applying Miami.

Issues

Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes full case search.

Holding

Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes full case search.

Analysis

Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes full case search.

Applicant takeaway

Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes full case search.

Defense takeaway

Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes full case search.

Provider takeaway

Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes full case search.

Similar decisions

Member is $25/month or $250/year. Subscribe to view similar decisions.

Member is $25/month or $250/year. Subscribe to view similar decisions.

Member is $25/month or $250/year. Subscribe to view similar decisions.

Member is $25/month or $250/year. Subscribe to view similar decisions.

Member is $25/month or $250/year. Subscribe to view similar decisions.

Member is $25/month or $250/year. Subscribe to view similar decisions.

Member is $25/month or $250/year. Subscribe to view similar decisions.

Member is $25/month or $250/year. Subscribe to view similar decisions.