WCDefenseCA

Happy Wednesday dear readers!  While browsing LinkedIn recently, your humble blogger saw a photo of children viciously attacking a Piñata, as some children are known to do, and it reminded me of an obscure bit of history. 

In the Soviet Union, for a very brief period of time, Piñatas were very popular.  The idea of hitting something and candy, or, really, anything edible, coming out, was a big “hit” (see what I did there?) right away.  Unfortunately, they quickly became unpopular.  You see, in the grand tradition of the nesting doll, Soviet piñata makers were ordered to make smaller piñatas inside of other piñatas.  Children soon found themselves cracking open Soviet piñatas, only to find smaller Soviet piñatas inside, and so on.  Children all over the workers’ paradise cried in frustration and gave up.

Some historians, none very credible or respected, attribute the collapse of the Soviet Union to the devastating effect on morale this short-lived phenomenon had on the population.

In a lot of ways, workers’ compensation fraud is like a Soviet pinata.  You bash it and you bash it.  You smack it with sub rosa and whack it with criminal prosecution.  And what comes out?  More fraud.

Well the wheels of Justice are ever turning and Department of Insurance reports that a Fresno construction worker has been charged with multiple counts of insurance fraud and perjury.  The criminal defendant, who will not be named as he is charged and not convicted, collected temporary disability benefits on an accepted injury and denied subsequent employment, but was caught on sub rosa tape commuting to another construction company and, presumably, working as an employee. 

In all likelihood, records will be subpoenaed from this second employer which will probably show earnings that predate deposition testimony made under penalty of perjury. 

The claims adjuster in this case was likely diligent and picked up on a red flag prompting sub rosa and then the instant criminal referral.  We should all take a lesson to be as vigilant.

Your humble blogger hopes the victims are made whole and justice is done in this case.

Straight on till Friday, Comrades!