Alrighty dear readers, we are back again with more crazy adventures in our beloved swamp of workers’ compensation.

Workers’ compensation fraud continues to plague California and your humble blogger would like to take this time to remind everyone to be alter.  And, when your humble blogger says everyone, he really does mean…

Adjuster, attorneys, employers, and, of course, co-workers!

Workers’ compensation fraud hurts everyone – when your employer goes out of business and you lose your job, you can thank your “injured” co-worker for the fraud he or she committed to steal from the employer, and you can thank yourself for not speaking up.  When everything you want to buy is getting more expensive, you can thank the fraudsters who unjustly drive up the costs of getting a product to market.  Surely, fraud isn’t the only factor driving costs up, but it certainly doesn’t help!

The California Department of Insurance reports that a Sacramento welder has been charged with felony insurance fraud for misrepresenting his symptoms.  Now, this is only a charge and not a conviction, so your humble blogger will decline to name names, but if everything is to be believed as claimed, then the criminal defendant/workers’ compensation applicant was video-taped exceeding his work restrictions and his subjective limitations.

Reading the press release reminds us that the district attorney did not just manifest charging documents – it was a team effort.  Co-workers reported seeing the criminal defendant as acting fine despite having reported limitations.  This triggered an investigation that put together the evidence to present to the district attorney, which then felt there was enough evidence to charge the worker with a crime.

Your humble blogger hopes that in this welder’s case, the truth is discovered and justice is done.  Likewise, your humble blogger hopes we are all reminded to stay vigilant and that co-workers are encouraged to do the right.  Straight on till Wednesday, dear readers!