Five Things You Need to Know: 6/13, Wednesday Edition

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) - 

1) NY: More than $4G Allegedly Stolen in Work Comp/Construction Fraud Scheme 

Genesee County resident Sergio Forte (from LeRoy) was arrested this week for allegedly taking more than $4,000 from the state’s work comp fund as fraudulent benefits, writes Kaley Lynch of WIVB4.com. “…According to the New York State Workers' Fraud Compensation Inspector General's office, Forte received Workers' Compensation benefits during the spring of 2015 when he allegedly injured his knee while carrying construction materials while on a job laying tile for a construction company,” according to the article. The former construction company worker claimed he wasn’t working, but was actually employed to help on a farm while he received a little more than $4,000 in benefits that were not his. “…Forte was remanded without bail to the Genesee County Jail pending his return to court on Monday.”

2) NWCDC 2018: Registration is Open

The National Workers’ Compensation & Disability Conference (NWCDC) is scheduled to take place Dec. 5-7, 2018 at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, according to its website. The keynote speaker, recently announced, will be “…seven-time Olympic medalist Shannon Miller,” who “…will kick things off with a motivating look at how the gold-medal mindset helps overcome challenges and inspires success, whether on the competition floor or in the workplace.” A new “Orientation Session” will take place at the beginning of that week, to get attendees old and new acquainted with how the conference works, including tips and tricks to get through the sessions with some extra background and knowledge. To register, and for more information, click here. Check back to WorkersCompensation.com as the event gets closer, and as more details emerge.  

3) LA: $1M in Damages Requested in Alleged Unsafe Work Environment Lawsuit

New Orleans resident Michael Carradine has filed a lawsuit against Baywater Drilling, alleging that while employed as a barge worker off the coast, he damaged discs in his back while transporting a steel beam on the Timbalier barge, writes Justin Stoltzfus of the Louisiana Record. He alleges an unsafe work environment led to the accident. “…The complaint seeks to recover past medical expenses estimated at $3,500, as well as maintenance of $55 a day and economic damages in an amount to be proved at trial,” per the article. Carradine requests trial-by-jury, all compensation/wages, earnings and medical compensation, totaling at about $1 million.

4) IL: Online Consignment Co. Sued for Allegedly Not Warning Hundreds of Employees About Massive Layoff 

Delaney Haefner of Chicago has filed a class action lawsuit against Swap.com Inc., alleging the company didn’t give almost 200 employees notice that a “mass layoff” was going to occur, writes Angelica Saylo Pilo of Legal News Line. “…According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on March 30 she and 196 employees of the defendant were terminated as part of a mass layoff. The plaintiff alleges employees were not warned 60 days in advance of the layoff as required by the WARN Act,” writes Saylo Pilo. Haefner requests trial-by-jury, court costs, disbursements, and any other relief.

5) WV: Former Coal Co. Worker to Receive Benefits after State Supreme Court Reverses Original Work Comp Ruling

Charleston resident Jimmie Lemon filed a work comp claim in May 2016 after he allegedly ran over a pothole and severely damaged his back on the job with Arch Coal, writes Kyla Asbury of the West Virginia Record. But according to a claims administrator, it was denied because it was identified as not work-related, but an aggravated previous injury. “…The Supreme Court subsequently agreed to rehear the case and changed its previous ruling, stating that it now believes Lemon's injury was work-related. As a result, the court withdrew the December 2017 memorandum decision,” per the article. “Justice Menis Ketchum authored the opinion upholding the board's determination.”

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