Brooklyn business owner charged with $55M bank fraud, identity theft, witness tampering
The owner of a lumber and construction materials business was charged in Brooklyn Federal Court on Tuesday with bank fraud, aggravated identity theft and witness tampering. He allegedly supplied his check-cashing customers with fraudulent documents that they could use to disguise the transactions as payments by the customers for materials and/or subcontracting work if the customers were audited by the New York State Workers Compensation Board or tax authorities. Brooklyn Eagle
Washington man tries to pass off a bar fight as a workplace injury
A 40-year-old Yelm, Washington man pleaded guilty on Tuesday to misrepresenting a bar fight as a workplace accident and stealing workers’ compensation benefits from the state. The Washington Department of Labor & Industry says it investigated the claim after an acquaintance provided text messages where the claimant indicated he knowingly falsified his workplace injury claim. Tri-City Herald
Because of an emergency law adopted at the beginning of the pandemic, certain employees had an easier path to winning claims under Minnesota’s workers’ compensation law than others. The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry says 96 percent of COVID-19 infected employees covered under the new law had their workers’ compensation claim accepted, and those who didn’t qualify saw their claim denied 72 percent of the time. MinnPost
Kentucky bill aims to protect employees affected by vaccine mandates
A bill is being proposed for the 2022 Kentucky General Assembly that would provide protections for employees who suffer adverse effects from COVID-19 vaccines mandated by employers. If an employee is required to receive the vaccine and they experience adverse side effects within 14 days, they would be eligible to receive workers’ compensation. Kentucky Today (Louisville)