Workers’ Comp Claim Figures in Campaign

• A political race for sheriff is turning ugly, in part, because of a workers’ compensation claim.
• Allegedly, an accusation from one of the candidates insinuated fraud in connection with a workers’ comp claim, including stealing state money.
• The candidate running against incumbent Eddie Verdin, says that Verdin lied when he said he didn’t file a workers’ comp claim, when they were both deputies. The Pawhuska Journal Capital obtained records showing that Verdin did file a claim.
• In fact, the Journal says public records show he filed several claims when working for the Department of Agriculture. Verdin tells the Journal that he never denied filing a claim. He says he was pushing back against statements that tarnished his reputation. He might have used the wrong word.
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Buy Once Cry Once

• Employers would do well to invest money on safety upfront, says an occupational specialist.
• Employers are finding that by saving a few bucks they’re increasing the possibility of workers’ compensation claims.
• Employers need to pay the money upfront to get some idea as to whether the worker can do the job safely.
• An insurance company group says that the average workers’ comp claim was almost $50,000 in 2019. Not all industries are required to conduct pre-employment screenings, but they probably should.
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Truck Driver Convicted of Fraud

• A truck driver has been convicted of committing thousands of dollars in workers’ compensation fraud.
• Interstate truck driver, Simon Stott, was seriously injured in a crash in 2014, for which he received weekly payments.
• He later posted on social media about a new job he had gotten as an interstate driver. And it wasn’t just one.
• Between 2017 and 2018, Stott earned $50,000 working for at least five different companies as a truck driver, all the while saying he could not return to work.
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FL Firefighters to Get Extra Benefits

• Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a bill treating cancer in firefighters like any other job-related injury.
• HB 989 gives firefighters the same workers’ comp benefits for cancer-related illnesses that they get for any other job-related injury.
• Other states and local governments have been beefing up protections for firefighters, who are frequently on their own to deal with cancer-related illnesses.
• According to a firefighter support network, more than 70% of deaths in firefighters last year were attributable to cancer.
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Court Finds Worker Injured in Course of Employment

• Circuit rules that Louisiana employee had payments improperly terminated.
• Roydall Lumar injured his arm, shoulders, and spine when working for Central Transport. The company paid his benefits and offered hm light duty work.
• When he refused the light work offer, Central terminated his indemnity benefits. Roydall sued in part because he wasn’t allowed to choose his own orthopedic doctor.
• The court says he was injured at work but does not get the benefits. But hope springs eternal. He’s hoping to get to choose his doctor and get paid disability benefits for one day of work.
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