Quote of the day
"I think it's fair under the circumstances. Both these people had injuries but they were exaggerating their claims. They were lucky in the sense that they were cooperative and pled before trial."
Kern County Deputy District Attorney David Wolf, about a Rosamond couple that pleaded no contest to workers' comp fraud and now faces a year in jail
San Diego Framer Pays $600,000 in Restitution to State Fund
The California State Compensation Insurance Fund says it has received nearly $600,000 in restitution from the owner of a San Diego framing company convicted of workers’ compensation insurance fraud. Workers’ Comp Executive
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Church Employee, Hubby Await Sentencing for Insurance Fraud
A Rosamond couple that has pleaded no contest to ripping off the state workers’ compensation system of more than $1 million in direct payments, medical care and chauffeur and housekeeping services, faces up to a year in jail. The wife, a former church employee, reportedly was videotaped walking without a special crutch, which she then used before entering the courthouse; the husband allegedly built a storage building while on total disability. By Karen Maeshiro, Los Angeles Daily News
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Western Nevada County Deals with Physician Shortage
A special Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital task force discusses closing the primary care doctor gap, which is said to leave 18,000 western Nevada County residents without a primary care physician. “It would be nice to have an organization that would take care of insurance, billings, workers’ compensation and some personnel functions,” says one area urologist. By Dave Moller, the Union (Grass Valley)
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Suspect in Attorney’s Killing Reportedly Wanted to Reopen Claim
Angus Macintyre, the suspect in the fatal shooting of Santa Cruz workers’ compensation attorney Jay BloomBecker, had been upset with the settlement he’d received a year ago from a workers’ comp claim for a back injury, according to the slain attorney’s girlfriend, and had started showing up at BloomBecker’s office a few months ago complaining that he’d run out of cash and wanted to reopen his claim. By Julie O’Shea, the Recorder via Law.com
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Ohio Businesses Face Liens for Failing to Pay Premiums
The Ohio attorney general could place liens against 57 Ohio businesses that the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation has on its debtors list, for failure to pay workers’ compensation premiums. By Tracy Turner, Columbus Dispatch
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Two Brokers Snared in BWC Investment Probe
Two Ohio investment brokers are indicted on federal charges that they bribed a former top official at the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation with the use of their Florida Keys condo in exchange for state business. They are the eighth and ninth people charged in a yearlong political scandal in Ohio that has led to ethics charges against Gov. Bob Taft, who pleaded no contest to failing to report gifts.
Go to the full story by Mark Niquette via Columbus Dispatch
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Go to the full story by Laura A. Bischoff, Dayton Daily News
West Virginia Companies’ Insurance Reinstated
The West Virginia Insurance Commission reinstates the workers’ compensation policies of 118 companies that had not paid their March 31 workers’ compensation insurance premiums as of May 8. The reinstated companies have paid a penalty and have either paid their premiums or entered into a repayment agreement. By George Hohmann, Charleston Daily Mail
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Shot in 2000, Michigan Cop Seeks Reinstatement of Benefits
A Battle Creek, Mich. police sergeant who was shot in the pelvis in 2000 is asking city commissioners to reinstate his workers’ compensation benefits. Sgt. Brandon Hultink and his union contend Hultink’s claim that he “can no longer psychologically perform the job of police officer” is a new and different claim. By Trace Christenson, Battle Creek Enquirer [With Photos] Go to the Full Story…
Employers Warned: Key In on RSIs
In the U.K., experts warn firms to reassess work practices and provide support and training to help staff prevent repetitive strain injury after a former journalist wins a $68,000 settlement. Her claim arose from her employer’s alleged denial of treatment because she was a temporary employee. By James Murray, IT Week via vnunet.com (U.K.)
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Oklahoma: Gov Names New Workers’ Comp Judge
Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry appoints Oklahoma City attorney Michael Harkey to fill an opening on the Workers’ Compensation Court, succeeding Richard Mason, who resigned in January. By AP via KTEN-TV (Denison, Texas)
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