Five Things You Need to Know: 10/1, Monday Edition

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) -

1) ‘Operation Hot Water’ in FL Busts 20 People Accused of Work Comp Fraud

“Twenty individuals were arrested in Florida in a workers’ compensation insurance fraud sting operation involving unlicensed contractors in Pasco County in ‘Operation Hot Water,’ according to a statement from Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis on Sept. 27,” according to the Insurance Journal and the FL Dept. of Financial Services. Contractors were caught working without a license and comp coverage. “If convicted, each individual faces up to 5 years in prison per count,” per the article. The sting operation involved the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PSO), Bureau of Insurance Fraud, Dept. of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), and the Pasco County Building Department.

2) Ballroom Dancers in Rapper’s Video Allege Nonpayment

Multiple ballroom dancers contracted to work in a Teyana Taylor music video allege they weren’t treated or paid appropriately in July, writes Carlos Greer of Page 6. Talent Coordinator Derek Auguste hired the dancers, who say they had to do their own makeup, were fed cold pizza, and had to wait around on set for quite awhile. Taylor’s mother and manager said they were unaware of this and are working to fix it. “…We’re going to go ahead and recut another check to those kids because it’s not their fault,” she said.

3) Did You Miss WorkersCompensation.com’s AMA 6^th Edition Hot Seat Last Week? No Problem.

Last week, Alan Pierce, attorney and author; and Dr. Chris Brigham, physician and author took to our latest webinar, “Impairing the Guides: The Legal Assault on the 6th Edition” to discuss the ins and outs of the latest guide. Pierce is host of the podcast “Workers' Comp Matters” heard on the Legal Talk Network, and Dr. Brigham is Senior Contributing Editor for the AMA Guides Sixth edition and Editor of the AMA Guides Newsletter. He is also author of the book, Living Abled. To view the webinar, click here. WorkersCompensation.com President and CEO Bob Wilson and Florida Deputy Chief Judge of Compensation Claims David Langham hosted.

4) IL: Couple Requests at Least $50G in Alleged Asbestos Exposure Lawsuit

Belleville residents Phillip and Laura Gibson have filed a lawsuit against companies including BP Products North America, DAP Products Inc. and URS Corporation, alleging asbestos exposure on the job led to Philip’s lung cancer, writes Lahlie Castillo of the Madison-St. Clair Record. He worked as a laborer and welder for said manufacturing companies, and was diagnosed in 2016. “The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek compensatory damages of more than $50,000,” according to the article.

5) CA Construction Co. Accused of Providing False Information to Get Lower Comp Insurance Rates

The California State Compensation Insurance Fund has filed a lawsuit against SD3 Construction Inc.; Stergeos Demetreos III and Does 1 through 100, alleging the company provided false information to get lower insurance rates, writes Noddy A. Fernandez of the Northern California Record. “…According to the complaint, on May 3, 2011, parties entered into a written agreement for a workers' compensation insurance policy sold by the plaintiff. The plaintiff alleges that the defendants misrepresented the amount of and classifications of employee payroll ‘in order to procure a lower premium on a workers' compensation insurance policy.' The plaintiff alleges it has been damaged in the amount of $233,413.67,” according to the article. “The plaintiff seeks judgment for compensatory damages, plus interest on the damages awarded at the legal rate of 10 percent, costs of suit, and for such other and further relief as the court may deem just and proper.”

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