Workers' Comp Appeal Attorney in Burbank, California

When an Appeal Makes Sense for Burbank Workers

Not every unfavorable decision should be appealed. An appeal is appropriate when:

The judge misunderstood your employment status. In Burbank, where entertainment workers are frequently denied claims based on alleged independent contractor status, a judge who applies the wrong legal test — using the multi-factor Borello test when the ABC test under AB 5 should apply — commits a legal error ripe for reversal.

The PD rating ignores medical evidence. If the judge adopted a QME opinion contradicted by objective medical findings, surgical records, or treating physician reports, the decision may not be supported by substantial evidence.

Apportionment was improperly applied. A judge who attributes 70% of a Burbank set builder's back disability to "aging" despite his physically demanding career may have committed a factual error reviewable on appeal.

Procedural errors occurred at trial. If you were denied the opportunity to submit evidence or cross-examine a medical witness, those errors may constitute grounds for reconsideration.

Common Workers' Comp Appeal Scenarios in Burbank

The camera operator at a Disney production wins his claim for a cervical spine injury but receives only an 8% PD rating. The QME who examined him spent 15 minutes on the evaluation and produced a report that ignores his two cervical surgeries and the fact that he can no longer perform overhead camera work. The Petition for Reconsideration argues the judge's adoption of this deficient QME report is not supported by substantial evidence.

The manufacturing worker on San Fernando Boulevard has her cumulative trauma claim denied because the judge found she did not prove industrial causation. However, the judge ignored the treating physician's detailed report connecting 15 years of repetitive assembly work to bilateral wrist and shoulder conditions. A petition arguing the judge failed to consider substantial evidence supporting causation has strong prospects.

The stunt performer at Warner Bros. is denied workers' comp entirely because the judge accepts the insurer's argument that he was an independent contractor. The judge's analysis relies on the Borello test, but the work — stunt coordination on a studio production — falls squarely within AB 5's ABC test, under which the performer is an employee. This legal error is a strong basis for reversal.

Why Choose Yazdchi Law for Workers' Comp Appeals in Burbank

• Board-certified appellate expertise — Eman Yazdchi's specialist certification covers the full range of workers' comp practice, including the skills needed for Petitions for Reconsideration and Writs of Review.
• Analytical legal writing — Appellate success depends on the quality of written argument. Yazdchi Law produces the precise, well-reasoned briefing that WCAB commissioners and appellate justices expect.
• Van Nuys WCAB knowledge — Understanding how Van Nuys judges reason and decide cases helps Yazdchi Law craft targeted, effective appellate arguments.
• Honest assessment — Not every case should be appealed. Eman provides candid evaluations of appeal viability to avoid wasting your time on weak claims.