California: Central Valley ag employee charged with workers’ comp fraud

A Sanger, California man has been arraigned on charges of felony insurance fraud for allegedly collecting $38,000 in workers’ compensation and medical treatment after being struck by a forklift while working in 2017. Surveillance video conducted while he was off work collecting disability captured him visiting a casino, shopping, watering his lawn and transferring a large piano keyboard from one vehicle to another, according to the California Department of Insurance. Fresno Bee

When does COVID-19 become a workers’ comp issue?

COVID-19 can be treated as an occupational disease in some instances. What happens if an employee falls ill with COVID-19 and can trace the exposure to the workplace? Central Penn Business Journal

Illinois workers’ comp no bar to biometric privacy class claims

A Chicago nursing-home employee’s proposed class action alleging her employer’s fingerprint timekeeping system violates an Illinois privacy statute isn’t barred workers’ compensation exclusivity, a state appeals court has ruled. Bloomberg Law

COVID-19 workers’ comp considerations for long-term care facilities

Putting the right controls and procedures in place to facilitate a safe work environment can significantly reduce the spread of the virus within a long-term care facility and protect the organization when it comes to COVID-19-related workers’ compensation claims. Here are some things to consider, according to Emily Windle of Altus Corporate Risk. McKnight’s Long-Term Care News

Drywaller arrested for not providing workers’ comp, Inspector General says

The 40-year-old owner of a Schenectady, New York drywall business has been arrested for allegedly failing to provide workers’ compensation insurance to his employers, according to New York’s Inspector General. If convicted on both counts, he could face up to eight years in prison. News10

In Virginia, hopes for COVID-19 workers’ comp expansion ends in Senate committee

A Virginia Senate committee on September 24 killed a bill that would extend COVID-19-related workers’ compensation to first responders, teachers and health care providers. The virus is currently considered an “ordinary disease of life” under state law, making it nearly impossible for employees to claim workers’ compensation unless they can prove they caught the virus at work. The bill aimed to reclassify it as an occupational disease for certain industries, similar to recent legislation that made it easier for firefighters to claim benefits for cancers connected to smoke and hazardous chemicals. Prince William Times