News Digest 11-16-2021

 

California: Sonoma County resident convicted in slip and fall workers’ comp fraud case

A 38-year-old Santa Rosa man has pleaded guilty to insurance fraud and paid more than $14,000 in restitution and additional fines to the California Department of Insurance. The Marin County District Attorney’s Office filed charges against after investigators found he was collecting disability payments while also working for a new company despite telling medical professionals he was unable to work due to the severity of his injuries, even using a cane at his appointments. Sierra Sun Times

 

Hollywood actor sued by family of roofer who died after fall

The family of an unlicensed contractor who fell while replacing the roof at a house owned by Hollywood actor Olivia Munn and died several weeks later from his injuries has filed a wrongful death suit. Big News Network

 

West Virginia: County commission gives ambulance squads money for workers’ comp

Preston County, West Virginia commissioners have set aside more than $72,000 for county ambulance squads this week, and were reminded by other agencies that they still have funding requests pending for federal funds. Preston County News & Journal

 

Kansas sees record business growth, but some challenge governor’s numbers

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly recently said that more than $7 billion in new business has been invested in the state since she took office in 2019. Dan Murray, Kansas state director of National Federation of Independent Business, said most surveys and indices place Kansas in the middle of the pack in terms of business friendliness, and many factors impact the business-friendliness, including taxes, workers’ comp, legal climate, energy costs and capital and labor costs. KPVI

 

Australia: New South Wales repeals COVID frontliners’ workers comp coverage

The New South Wales government plans to roll back a special protection added to the state’s Workers Compensation Act in May 2020 for frontline employees who test positive for COVID-19, saying it will save businesses half a billion dollars. Leaving the protection in place could lead to 25,000 extra claims over the next year, with insurance premiums rising by $950 on average, according to a government minister. Times News Express