Five Things You Need to Know: 12/6, Thursday Edition

Las Vegas, NV (WorkersCompensation.com) -

1) OH: Payroll Co. Owner Allegedly Defrauds BWC of $425K

John R. Cacaro was the owner of Employers Choice Plus, a payroll company. He has been sentenced to a half of a year in prison, along with a $10,000 fine, for allegedly defrauding OH of $425K in work comp benefits, according to Ryan Smith of Insurance Business (America) and the state Bureau of Work Comp (BWC). “…He was convicted in June after BWC and IRS investigators uncovered a scheme to short the BWC on insurance premiums he received from workers,” per the article. He allegedly used some of the money to purchase a house and motor home, per IRS Special Agent in Charge Ryan L. Korne in the article.

2) LA to See Decrease in Work Comp Rates

“Louisiana Department of Insurance has approved a rate filing from the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) for a statewide decrease of 5.6 percent in workers’ compensation rates,” according to Insurance Journal and the LA Dept. of Insurance. The decrease will be effective as of May 2019. Premium total for the state’s work comp market sits at the approximate amount of $800 million.  

3) NWCDC 2018 Rolls into Wednesday, with Speakers, Vendors and Networking Galore

While the flashing lights, gambling activity and buffets faded into the distance at the Mandalay Bay Resort Convention Center, the speakers and sessions took the stage for attendees involved in work comp from a multitude of perspectives: providers, attorneys, medical professionals, HR reps, insurance and claims professionals, c-suite executives, business owners, employees, etc. Click here to read about the sessions from Wednesday, including speakers elaborating on the gold-medal approach in life, active threat situations in the workplace, and the legal ramifications of marijuana, to name a few. 

4) Tuesday Recap: The Alliance of Women in Work Comp Took Over NWCDC

The Alliance of Women in Work Comp event took place Tuesday, and it is worth a recap. Natalie Torres, a return-to-work specialist for WorkFinders, told WorkersCompensation.com via email that keynote speaker and Influencer, Michelle Poler spoke about defeating our fears. She faced 100 fears in 100 days, and it went viral. “…She overcame fears like, cliff jumping, dancing like no one is watching in Times Square,” per Torres. With parents who survived the Holocaust hailing from Venezuela, Poler told the crowd to not let fears take over our lives. Instead of the driver’s seat, she said, “…Put (fears) in the passenger seat and take them along for the ride but don't let them close your comfort zone down so you're ruled by fear.” She opened and concluded her presentation with a little dancing session, which was received well by the audience.

5) TX: Employee Allegedly Involved in Causing Customer’s Injuries

Sandra Kay Gunnells has filed a lawsuit against Southern Komfort Kitchen LLC, alleging she was hurt when an employee ran into her, writes Kristine Gonzales-Abella of the Southeast Texas Record. “…According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on Nov. 27, 2016, she was a patron at defendant's restaurant in La Porte when she was knocked down to the ground by an employee who was carrying a tray from the kitchen. She alleges she sustained serious injury to her left arm and shoulder,” per the article. Gunnells also alleges the employee wasn’t properly trained. She requests trial-by-jury, damages, interest, and any other relief.  

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