Adam Hayward — ADJ21106251

Professional football player Adam Hayward claimed cumulative industrial injuries while employed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2007-2014) and Washington Commanders (2014-2016). Defendant Buccaneers denied injury and challenged the WCAB's subject matter jurisdiction, arguing Hayward's contracts were signed outside California and any new testimony that he accepted the Commanders' offer in California required reopening discovery. After trial on jurisdiction alone, the WCJ found Hayward was hired in California by both teams because he verbally accepted each offer while physically present in California, conferring jurisdiction under Labor Code sections 5305 and 3600.5(a) with no exemption under 3600.5(c) or (d). The Appeals Board denied reconsideration, deferring to the WCJ's credibility determination and holding that a valid offer and acceptance in California constitutes a California hiring sufficient for jurisdiction, with written contract signing being a mere condition subsequent that cannot defeat jurisdiction under section 5000.