AUSTREBERTO FLORES, EFIGENIA FLORES vs. CARSON CAPITAL CORPORATION, AMERICAN HOME ASSURANCE COMPANY

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board affirmed the administrative law judge's finding that applicants failed to prove a serious and willful violation or safety violation causing the decedent's death. The WCJ found the employer had no knowledge of the cart's mechanical issues, deeming the throttle spring break a spontaneous event. The Board upheld this, giving more weight to the credible testimony of the employer and defense witness over unsworn hearsay statements from co-employees not produced for cross-examination. A dissenting commissioner argued for further development of the record, noting consistent employee statements suggesting employer knowledge of mechanical problems and failure to act.