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Christopher Maguire — ADJ12317646

CHRISTOPHER MAGUIRE, Applicant vs. SIERRA CONSERVATION CENTER, legally uninsured; adjusted by STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND (SCIF), Defendants

ADJ number: ADJ12317646
Decision date: May 3, 2026
District office: Lodi
WCJ: —
Claim administrator: State Compensation Insurance Fund (SCIF)
Commissioners: KATHERINE WILLIAMS DODD, COMMISSIONER, CRAIG L. SNELLINGS, COMMISSIONER, KATHERINE A. ZALEWSKI, CHAIR

Injury / body parts: bilateral shoulders, heart/circulatory system, lumbar spine, bilateral hips, abdomen/hernia, groin, eyes/vision, excretory system (kidney stones)

LC §5909LC §5900LC §5701LC §5906LC §5705LC §5903LC §5952CCR §10962

Summary

Applicant, a correctional officer, claimed a cumulative injury (May 10, 2018 through May 10, 2019) to multiple body parts. The WCJ initially found 48% permanent disability with apportionment, but the Board, on applicant's reconsideration, rescinded the F&A and substituted a new F&A finding permanent disability without apportionment, returning the matter for PD calculation. Defendant sought reconsideration, arguing the apportionment opinions of PQMEs Dr. Amster (pain medicine) and Dr. Schmitz (internal/cardiovascular) constituted substantial medical evidence. The Board denied reconsideration, holding that the apportionment opinions lacked specificity, reasoning, and supporting evidence required under Escobedo and Gatten, and that the Board's duty to develop the record is not a 'bailout' for a party who failed to meet its burden of proof.

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.