Newsletter

2026 Workers’ Compensation Symposium Review

The California JPIA hosted its 18^th Annual Workers’ Compensation Symposium on Thursday, August 13. The event was attended by representatives from Authority member agencies, the workers’ compensation claims team at Athens Administrators, and many of the Authority’s panel attorneys. As in prior years, attendees learned about topics relevant to their agencies’ workers’ compensation programs.

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Alex Mellor, the Authority’s risk services director, kicked off the event by highlighting the many risk management services available to members to prevent injuries. Attendees next heard from Giovanni Valencia, a longtime member of the Authority’s defense panel, and Adam Dombchik, an attorney who represents injured workers. They discussed the pursuit and defense of presumptive injuries with a focus on cancer, heart injuries, and complex PTSD claims. Kris Bowen, client services director with Workers’ Comp Resolutions informed members about the service her team provides when the team at Athens has trouble securing approval for claim settlements. The last panel before lunch featured Stormie Westendorf, compliance administrator with Athens Managed Care, and Elvia Rodriguez, one of the Authority’s senior claims examiners at Athens. They provided an update on the state’s recently updated utilization review regulations and their impact on medical treatment.

Following lunch, Jodene Dunphy, the human resources and risk management director for the City of Poway, and Kevin Fritzsche, the Authority’s division claims manager at Athens, informed members about how to use the results of workers’ compensation investigations in personnel matters. Employers often wait for a law enforcement agency, such as their County District Attorney, to prosecute an employee for workers’ compensation fraud, although Jodene outlined how her agency has taken action in cases involving two different city employees. The program concluded with an informative session from Gideon Baum, president of the California Workers’ Compensation Institute. He outlined some of the Institute’s recent research into cumulative trauma claims and offered thoughts on how the upcoming election could impact future workers’ compensation reform.

For members who were unable to attend the Symposium, a recording of the event is available in myJPIA. If you have any topics you would like to be considered for next year’s Symposium, please contact Jeff Rush, workers’ compensation program manager.

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