Injured Worker v. Tulare County, SIBTF

Practice Area: SIBTFWorkers Compensation
Date: April 4th, 2024
Outcome: SIBTF award for 100% disability (Estimated value in excess of $1,400,000)

The injured worker sustained an industrial injury on 10/20/2015, while working as a specialist in application support at Tulare County. The injury affected his cervical spine, lumbar spine, and caused headaches, memory impairment, and dizziness, resulting in a settlement by stipulation for 53% permanent disability on 6/13/2022.

After the workers’ compensation case was settled, Silberman & Lam, LLP filed a Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund (SIBTF) claim on behalf of the applicant. The injured worker had preexisting health conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, diverticulosis, heart disease, migraine syndrome, basal cell carcinomas of the skin, and issues with his left shoulder and left knee.

After years of thorough discovery, Silberman & Lam, LLP successfully secured a 100% disability award from the SIBTF. The applicant was entitled to back benefits of $320,399 and ongoing weekly benefits of $1,264, subject to annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA). Based on the average life expectancy, the present value of this award is estimated to exceed $1,400,000