Keith P. More

More has spent nearly 30 years practicing law and has obtained some of the largest awards in California workers’ compensation history. He specializes in workers’ compensation and personal injury crossover cases and has taken on some of the world’s largest corporations.

In an ongoing workers’ compensation and personal injury crossover case, Pinon v. American Promotional Events Inc., CIVDS1509213 (San Bernardino Super. Ct. May 8, 2017), More represents a man who was crushed and rendered a paraplegic when the metal walls of the fireworks stand he was loading onto a truck fell on him. The defendants argued that Jose Pinon was limited to workers’ compensation for his injuries.

More established liability on the defendants since they failed to provide training and were negligent in their hiring of various employees on a temporary basis. More argued that Pinon was not employed by the defendants, and even if he was, the company failed to procure workers’ compensation insurance.

He obtained a $5.85 million settlement on the personal injury portion of the case after litigating for almost two years. While an injured worker with both a workers’ compensation claim and personal injury claim is not legally entitled to obtain a “double recovery,” More was able to get a waiver from the workers’ compensation carrier for the lien right of $1.8 million. The workers’ compensation portion of the case is ongoing.

More said complex and at times ineffective workers’ compensation laws make it easier for insurance providers to deny or challenge coverage for needed medical treatments. In advocating for his clients, More said, his job is to tell their stories — not just to judges, but also to legislators, insurance officials and the media.

“Injured workers and employees need a voice,” More said. “I don’t know how to go about it any other way than to try these cases and make them as public as possible.”

— Jennifer Chung Klam