Under what condition can an employee's compensation be reduced by 50% if they are seriously injured due to their own serious and willful misconduct?

The scenario in which an employee's compensation can be reduced by 50% due to their own serious and willful misconduct is applicable when certain severe outcomes arise from the injury. The correct answer includes both specified conditions: if the injury results in death, and if the injury produces permanent disability of 70% or over.

When an employee engages in serious and willful misconduct, it indicates a willful disregard for safety, which can lead to more grave consequences in terms of workplace injuries. If such misconduct directly results in death, the law holds the employee partially responsible for their fate, hence the compensation can be substantially reduced. Similarly, if the injury results in a permanent disability that denotes a high percentage of impairment (70% or more), this too serves as a compelling reason for decreasing the compensation, reflecting the gravity of the misconduct involved.

Together, these conditions illustrate the legal principles that guide compensation reductions in serious cases of employee misconduct in California's workers' compensation framework, providing a clear rationale for when and how deductions are applied based on the nature of the injuries and the behavior leading to them.