Black v. General Motors Corp.

Defendant appeals by leave granted from an order of the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board (WCAB) affirming and extending a hearing referee’s award of disability compensation benefits to plaintiff.

Plaintiff was first employed by defendant during the mid-1950’s as a pipefitter. On October 31, 1977, plaintiff injured his back and was thereafter unable to work. Plaintiff filed a claim for disability compensation benefits on May 9, 1978, and an amended claim on March 27, 1979. In an order dated April 20, 1979, the hearing referee awarded benefits of $127 per week from November 1, 1977, until…