Stephen Grimaud, vice president, CRO, Staffing Partners
For most staffing companies, explosive growth and a workforce concentrated in one of the country’s most litigious workers’ compensation jurisdictions would be a recipe for runaway claim costs. More than 25% of claims in Southern California end up being litigated, and many injured workers are represented by applicant attorneys before an injury is even reported to the employer. The result is often inflated claim costs, prolonged claim duration, and unnecessary litigation that erodes the bottom line.
Staffing Partners grew to nearly $1 billion in revenue in less than ten years, and it employs a uniquely diverse workforce — from long-tenured employees to individuals re-entering the workforce after incarceration.
Managing risk across such a varied employee population, in such a difficult jurisdiction, while scaling the business at a rapid pace, required a fundamentally different approach.
A Growth Story Meets
Stephen Grimaud, who leads risk management at Staffing Partners, recognized that conventional claim handling would not be enough. He understood that risk management requires proactive intervention rather than reactive claim handling.
In an environment where high litigation rates, attorney involvement, and rising costs are often viewed as unavoidable, Grimaud was unwilling to accept the status quo. Instead, he set out to build a program rooted in partnership, speed, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Building a Program Around Partnership and Speed
When a questionable claim is reported, Staffing Partners immediately launches an investigation through a dedicated investigative partner. The goal is to place actionable information in the adjuster’s hands at the earliest possible stage — often while the claim is still being established.
Grimaud established a highly engaged claims management structure, meeting weekly with a CorVel claims team to review questionable claims, discuss strategy, and actively participate in decision-making.
A distinctive element of Grimaud’s program is an annual defense counsel summit held at Staffing Partners headquarters. Rather than reviewing individual cases, the group focuses on the systemic challenges facing the program. Defense attorneys, claims professionals, consultants, brokers, and management collaborate to answer three central questions: How can we prevent these issues from occurring? If they occur, how can we minimize their impact?
And how can we resolve them faster and more effectively?
In 2025, Staffing Partners achieved an 11% reduction in total incurred losses. At the same time, the program successfully completed 468 settlements, accelerating claim resolution and reducing long-term exposure.
Using CorVel’s 24/7 injury triage program, Staffing Partners avoided 219 claims in 2025, producing an estimated $372,000 in direct savings through avoided administration and medical costs. Medical management initiatives achieved a 71% reduction in medical charges, while bill review efforts generated approximately $18 million in net savings after fees.
As Staffing Partners expanded its workforce and operations, Grimaud built a risk management model capable of scaling alongside the business. &