Soliman, Maria

Maria Soliman, an IT manager working remotely for UC Berkeley, tripped, fell, and injured her right shoulder while running to answer the door for a scheduled veterinary appointment during a mandatory work Zoom call on February 1, 2023. The WCJ found no injury AOE/COE and ordered a take nothing, reasoning the act was an unrelated personal deviation. On reconsideration, a divided Appeals Board panel rescinded the F&O, holding that answering the door is an act of personal convenience reasonably contemplated for a remote employee and that applicant likely rushed only because she was on a work call. The Board found substantial medical evidence of injury based on Dr. Retodo's QME report and applicant's unrebutted deposition and trial testimony, and remanded for further proceedings. Commissioner Razo dissented, arguing the scheduled vet appointment was a purely personal deviation not contemplated by the employment.