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PanelQMELienGranted in Part

Taleb, Malik

MALIK TALEB, Applicant vs. EATALY USA LLC; LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE, Defendants

ADJ number: ADJ17194766
Decision date: Mar 16, 2026
District office: Van Nuys
WCJ: —
Claim administrator: Liberty Mutual Insurance
Commissioners: LISA A. SUSSMAN, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, KATHERINE WILLIAMS DODD, COMMISSIONER, JOSEPH V. CAPURRO, COMMISSIONER

Injury / body parts: right index finger

LC §5909LC §5900CCR §10600

Summary

Applicant Malik Taleb, in pro per, sought reconsideration of a WCJ's F&A finding 4% PD for an industrial right index finger injury sustained on January 15/16, 2018, while working as a prep cook for Eataly USA LLC. Applicant argued the PD rating was not supported by substantial medical evidence and that the WCJ improperly relied on the panel QME (Dr. Katherine Au) over the PTP (Dr. Milan Stevanovic). The Board affirmed that the QME's report constituted substantial medical evidence and the WCJ properly chose between conflicting reports, noting the PTP report did not provide a WPI rating. However, upon independent review, the Board found the WCJ erred in the rating and corrected it to 7% PD using impairment number 16.06.02.01 from the QME's ROM findings. The Board also amended the decision to defer the issue of the former attorney's lien for fees, ordering defendant to withhold 15% of the PD award pending resolution.

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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Similar decisions

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Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.

Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.

Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.

Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.

Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.

Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.

Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.