Police Officer’s Case Highlights Need for Proper Workers Comp Representation
Navigating the intricacies of a Workers’ Compensation case can be difficult to do on your own. Because the process is complex and can often involve a lot of red tape to cut through, individuals can make mistakes that put their compensation payments and recovery time in jeopardy. And for one Montgomery County police officer who mishandled his Workers’ Compensation claim, the consequences could be even more severe. Read on to find out more.
Workers’ Comp Case Fraud in Montgomery County
Office Gilbert Payne did have a legitimate Workers’ Compensation claim to file initially. A 2006 on-the-job accident, when Payne was working for the Baltimore Police Department, resulted in his back, hip, neck, and head experiencing different degrees of injury, and so he was able to argue his case and gain the appropriate amount of compensation, including compensation for his loss of earning capacity. After a Workers’ Comp hearing held in 2008, it was determined that Payne would receive both Workers’ Comp payments and that he would receive disability pension payments, as his injuries were categorized as a “permanent partial disability.”
So how did a legitimate Workers’ Compensation case turn into a case of fraud and perjury? At the hearing which finalized the terms of his compensation benefits, Payne did testify that he was not, at that time, employed. He had, however, been employed by Towson University at that time; he was later employed by the Montgomery County Police Department in 2010. Payne was able to collect his disability payments from two different sources as a result. Had he sought proper legal counsel during that time, he might have been better advised and informed his new employers of his compensation status, but he neglected to do so and is now facing a potential 10 year prison sentence for perjury in addition to a potential 15 year sentence for Workers’ Compensation fraud, and a fine of $15,000.
It is essential in something as complex and involved as a Workers’ Compensation case that the injured party work throughout the entirety of the process with a qualified, experienced attorney. Though in Payne’s case it seems to be a matter of willful deceit bringing about these charges against him, it could easily be that misunderstandings and misinterpretations could lead to a similar situation for an individual trying their best to adhere to the letter of the law. With the aid of a Workers’ Compensation lawyer, you can rest assured that you will not encounter these types of difficulties.
We have four offices across Maryland and Virginia with trained legal professionals ready to assist you. Please CALL US at 1-800-243-2439 to be directed to the closest Jenkins Block & Associates location to you.
Source:
The Sentinel