Quote of the day
“Because of Lara’s actions, clouds of corruption are now cast over the decision-making process of the Department’s Administrative Hearing Bureau– not the individual administrative law judges.”
Dale Debber, Publisher, Workers’ Comp Executive
Flash: Lara Took Money Before Favorable Actions in Applied Cases
Everyone knows that California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara took money into his 2020 campaign from individuals related to Applied Underwriters. The evidence in the timeline of events strongly suggests that he took official actions after receiving Applied Underwriters’ money. Click here for the details. Workers’ Comp Executive
New York: Farmworkers bill signed
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed the Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act, legislation that provides farmworkers with collective bargaining rights, overtime pay and other labor protections afforded in non-farm industries. The legislation takes effect January 1. Farm owners contend the law has at least four specific flaws. WWNY
Prosecutors allege $10M workers’ comp fraud
A 71-year-old New Jersey physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist helped the owners of a pharmacy defraud a federal workers’ compensation program out of $10 million, prosecutors have alleged. Authorities say the doctor submitted false reports that allowed hundreds of now-former U.S. Postal Service employees to submit disability claims. Daily Voice
No federal law covers working in extreme heat
As temperatures in Chicago and other parts of the country soar, a new bill aims to make some safety guidelines mandatory by creating a federal standard for protecting workers during extreme heat. Chicago Tribune