Sabharwal, Negar

Applicant Negar Sabharwal, a Deputy Public Defender III, claimed industrial injury arising from work stress. The WCJ found her thyroid aggravation industrial (not subject to the good faith personnel action defense per McCoy/Brooks) and issued a 5% award with future medical care, but denied the psychiatric injury claim. The WCJ determined that four of the five actual employment events (performance evaluations, denial of duty assignments, denial of office space, and a manager's email) were lawful, non-discriminatory, good faith personnel actions barred under Rolda, while the alleged excessive workload (an actual event) did not meet the statutory compensability threshold, and the alleged bias claims were subjective and barred under Verga. Applicant petitioned for reconsideration challenging the psyche denial. The WCAB adopted and incorporated the WCJ's Report and denied reconsideration on June 1, 2023.