Pennsylvania Woman Accused of Workers’ Compensation Fraud
Workers’ compensation insurance fraud and abuse contributes to the deconstruction of a system that provides injured workers with financial assistance during tough physical and emotional times. Employees who are unable to fulfill their job duties, either to a complete or partial degree, due to a work injury may qualify for certain monetary support through employment compensation.
When individuals utilize PA workers’ comp benefits for a reported injury but are found to maintain an unreported job elsewhere, that person may very likely face workers compensation insurance fraud and even theft charges. This is what happened to a woman in Pennsylvania who was discovered working as an exotic dancer while simultaneously acquiring workers’ comp benefits from a work injury she sustained as a waitress.
According to an Insurance Journal report, the woman suffered a back injury from a fall accident on the job in 2007 in which her former employer filed an accident report to Highmark Casualty Insurance Co. The woman was given almost $27,000 in workers’ compensation benefits after expressing to her doctor that her back injury made the necessary requirements of standing and altering positions to fulfill her job requirements almost impossible. In asserting that she was unable to work, the woman was given workers’ comp benefits.
Now that authorities have found out that the woman has been maintaining a job which requires her to stand and alter positions as a dancer, she has been charged with the felony offenses of workers’ compensation insurance fraud under two counts and one count of theft by deception. If she is convicted of these offenses, she may be required to serve seven years in prison and pay a $15,000 fine for each felony.
No matter how tough the economy may be, committing any fraudulent act is definitely not the answer. Pennsylvania workers’ compensation law is meant to provide coverage for benefits related to temporary or permanent disability, injury or illness incurred while on the job. Several workers greatly rely on this type of coverage to provide for themselves and their family members.
