Quote of the day
"It's a violation of the American spirit. Employers are hiring these people and pushing them hard to make a profit for the company, but when a worker gets hurt, they abandon him."
Gerry Rosenthal, the Florida attorney for an illegal worker who lost a leg but has not been able to get workers' comp
Injured Illegal Aliens Frequently Exploited and Taxpayers Pay for It
Thousands of illegal workers like Jose Hernandez, who lost his leg when he was slashed by a helicopter rotor blade in the Florida Everglades, are injured on the job every year in the U.S. but hit a wall when trying to collect workers’ compensation. As a result, injured workers often go without medical care or go to emergency rooms for treatment—and taxpayers pay for it. By Liz Chandler, McClatchy Washington Bureau [With Photo, Video and Audio] Go to the Full Story…
Former University Official Faces Comp Fraud Charges
A former workers’ compensation coordinator at the University of Central Oklahoma must stand trial on fraud and perjury charges for allegedly obtaining workers’ comp benefits while the university was paying him full wages. By AP via KTEN-TV (Denison, Texas)
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Builder in Discussions with NSW Officials over Asbestos Settlement
Australian building products firm James Hardie Industries is negotiating with New South Wales government officials and the Australian Taxation Office over possible changes to the funding arrangements for its asbestos compensation deal. The tax office recently ruled that the multi-billion dollar fund, which would compensate those exposed to asbestos-laden products the company used to make, would not have charity status for tax purposes. The Age (Australia)
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Commentary: Empire State Workers Are Being Shortchanged
New York’s ruinously expensive workers’ compensation system is breaking employers while paying injured workers the lowest weekly benefit in the nation. The problem is that unlike other states, the Empire State awards lifetime benefits to workers who suffer a job-related partial disability. Albany Times-Union
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Prosecutors Find More Broker Gifts to BWC Official
Federal prosecutors uncover more meals and perks, including cash, which two stockbrokers allegedly used to bribe the former chief financial officer of the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation for steering bureau business to their brokerages. By Mike Wilkinson and James Drew, Toledo Blade [With Photos] Go to the Full Story…
Florida Employee Leasing Firm Owner Convicted of Fraud
A Jacksonville businessman who ran an employee leasing company faces possible prison time after being convicted of federal mail and wire fraud and money laundering charges. He allegedly told client companies that leased workers were covered by an insurance company that was not authorized to do business in the U.S., and collected $5.8 million from his the companies for workers comp premiums. The Business Journal of Jacksonville
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Administaff Renews Workers’ Compensation Program with AIG
Professional employer organization Administaff, Inc. has announced that it has renewed its workers’ compensation program and related policies with selected member insurance companies of American International Group, Inc. Workers’ Comp Executive
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