Quote of the day
"There should be less of a focus on immigrant bashing and more of a focus on employers who are benefiting from a broken immigration system."
Mark Erlich, New England Regional Council of Carpenters, who contends that the construction industry's dependence on the underground economy is pervasive in Massachusetts
Romney’s Painters Probed for Suspected Labor Law Violations
A Massachusetts painting contractor that recently worked on presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s mansion is under investigation for allegedly hiring subcontractors that used illegal immigrants. The contractor in 1998 pleaded guilty to workers’ compensation fraud charges. By Maria Sacchetti and Connie Paige, Boston Globe
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Man Claims Lawyers Botched His $400K Workers’ Comp Claim
A worker who sustained neck and shoulder injuries while trying to close a jammed trailer door sues his attorneys in Madison County, Ill., contending that they negligently allowed his claim to be dismissed for lack prosecution and failed to timely apply to reinstate case after its dismissal. Moreover, he claims they also failed to notify him about the dismissal of his case, which he estimates was worth nearly $400,000, until it was permanently barred. By Steve Gonzalez, Madison – St. Clair Record
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County Raises Taxes to Cover Workers’ Comp Costs
State-mandated changes in the way workers’ compensation is calculated and more injuries among police officers are driving an increase in county taxes for city residents, say officials of Oneonta, N.Y. The county’s workers’ comp levy is more than $1 million higher than in the 2007 budget. By Jake Palmateer, Daily Star (Oneonta, N.Y.)
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Ohio Cops Bust Fraud Scheme That Used SSNs of Dead People
In Troy, Ohio, police seize computer equipment and records from a temporary staffing business as part of an investigation into filing of workers’ compensation claims using fake Social Security numbers and numbers of deceased individuals. All suspects are allegedly illegal aliens. By Nancy Bowman, Dayton Daily News
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WSI Board: Sacking of WSI Director ‘Inevitable’
“It became inevitable that … it was time for us and Sandy to separate,” says Robert Indvik, chairman of the board of the troubled Workforce Safety and Insurance agency, about the surprise firing of director Sandy Blunt. The board also decides not to cover the attorney fees for Blunt or the agency’s investigations director for successfully defending themselves against felony charges of conspiracy and misuse of funds. By Dale Wetzel, AP via Dickinson Press
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North Dakota A.G.: Governor Can’t Fire WSI Board Members
North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem says Gov. John Hoeven does not have the power to oust directors of Workforce Safety and Insurance. In an opinion issued last week, Stenehjem says that normally the governor has the power to remove members from boards if the governor has the power to appoint them, but that such is not the case with the WSI board. By AP via KXMB-TV (Bismarck) [With Photo] Go to the Full Story…
Critics Swarm Around Beehive State Bill
A Utah House bill that would revoke benefits to injured workers who are convicted of crimes or are in the country illegally draws strong criticism from the public and members of a workers’ comp advisory council. But business interests say the change could stem the hiring of illegal aliens. By Robert Gehrke, Salt Lake Tribune
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Evergreen State’s Rate Boost Should Pull in $58 Million
Washington’s 3.2-percent workers’ comp rate increase is expected to bring in an additional $58 million in premiums next year. It follows a 2-percent decrease in average premiums this year and a current partial rate holiday in the second half of 2007 that is saving employers and workers $315 million. The state Department of Labor & Industries also plans to fully implement a change in the experience modification factor. Tacoma Daily Index
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