Rhiner v. Workers' Compensation Appeals Board

Opinion

KENNARD, J.

When a worker suffers an industrial injury, the employer is required by law to provide workers’ compensation benefits. This obligation to provide benefits arises shortly after the injury has been incurred. When, upon a worker’s application, the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) issues an order or award, it includes benefits that the employer already has or should have paid, as well as benefits the employer is to pay in the future. (See, e.g., Lab. Code, §§ 4600, 4650; all further statutory citations are to the Labor Code.) If the employer has unreasonably delayed or…