Sumner v. Workers' Compensation Appeals Board

Opinion

GRODIN, J.

In Johnson v. Workmen’s Comp. App. Bd. (1970) 2 Cal.3d 964 [88 Cal.Rptr. 202, 471 P.2d 1002], we reviewed an order of the then Workmen’s Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) dismissing a widow’s application for death benefits on the ground that her husband entered into a compromise and release of all claims, including those of his dependents. In an opinion by Justice Tobriner we held, contrary to the widow’s contentions, that Labor Code section 5000, subdivision (b), authorizes an employee to release claims of his dependents; that the statute as so construed did not deprive the…