Workers’ comp fraud in Buffalo

• Charles Epps II, of Buffalo, pleaded guilty this afternoon before State Supreme Court Justice Paul B. Wojtaszek to one count of Insurance Fraud in the Third Degree and one count of grand larceny in the third degree.
• Epps reported his employment status while collecting Workers’ Compensation benefits and Social Security Disability benefits by claiming that he was unable to work due to an ongoing injury.
• The defendant, injured in July 2020 while working as a corrections officer for the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, fraudulently collected $52,542.07 in benefits while employed as a bus operator.
• As a condition of the plea, Epps signed two Confessions of Judgment to pay full restitution of $35,544.67 to the New York State Insurance Fund and $16,907.40 to the Social Security Administration.
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Workers’ comp bill gains momentum in Alaska

• A bill to modernize workers compensation rules is moving through the Alaska House and Senate
• A Senate bill to increase workers’ compensation rights and benefits passed in a 19-1 vote.
• With Alaska having the county’s fourth highest workers compensation premiums, sponsors say updating 2005 regulations is necessary to provide workers access to medical benefits more quickly.
• The bill will also more quickly prepare them to return to work. Supporters say the bill will adjust for inflation, which they blame for frequent coverage problems.
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Georgia considers workers’ comp bill for police officer

• House lawmakers in Georgia have until March 28 to pass a Senate bill named after a deputy who lost wages not covered by workers’ comp insurance while recovering from injuries sustained after being shot during an ambush.
• Senate Bill 371, known as the “Daniel D. Podsiadly, Jr. Act”, would change how the State Board of Worker’s Compensation handles cases involving police officers who suffer a catastrophic injury in the line of duty.
• Under the bill, the injured officer would be eligible to receive the same benefits and pay as before suffering the injuries.
• Claims for catastrophic injuries are investigated by the State Board of Workers’ Compensation to determine whether an office is eligible for the difference between workers’ compensation and law enforcement salary.
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Workers in Wisconsin suffer burns at fitness center

• OSHA is investigating after a 23-year-old man was taken to a hospital in Waukesha, Wisconsin, for treatment of burns he received while working on a boiler at the ProHealth West Wood Health & Fitness Center.
• Waukesha Fire Department Battalion Chief Tim Fleming said the incident occurred when the man was working on boiler equipment for the building’s heating and ventilation system.
• The boiler released built-up steam, burning the man on his upper body, Fleming said.
• Paramedics treated the man at the scene and he was later transported to St. Mary’s Burn Center and no one else was affected by the incident.
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