Yet Another Sacramento CHP Officer Charged with WC Fraud

Is there something about being in Sacramento and working for the CHP that makes one more likely to commit workers’ compensation fraud?  Is seeing California’s finest politicians hard at “work” in the state’s capital a source of inspiration for those that so effectively patrol our highways?

Back in April, your friendly neighborhood blogger reported on the workers’ compensation fraud charges lodged at Tony Yao, a California Highway Patrol officer in Sacramento.  My more interested readers can track the result of that case here.

But now, it appears that lightning has struck again, with the Sacramento District Attorney’s office accusing Officer Brian Christopher Hansen of faking an injury to collect workers’ compensation payments.  Normally, WCDefenseCA does not like to name names, but in cases of alleged fraud and criminal activity this rule is waived.

Sub rosa video showed Hansen moving furniture, driving for long periods of time, and picking up heavy objects with no signs of impairment, all while on leave because of a back injury that left him with restrictions that precluded his ordinary duties – even limited office duties.

According to this nifty device from the Sacramento Bee, in 2008, Hansen made $88,133.55, and in 2009 he was paid $83,906.26.  Was this not enough?  Is the job of a CHP officer really so horrible and the pay so meager that an injury needed to be faked?

Well, WCDefenseCA wishes the DA’s office the best of luck in obtaining a conviction, and hopefully recovering some of the money improperly obtained by Mr. Hansen.

Sacramento CHP Officer Arrested for Fraud

Workers’ compensation fraud is always frustrating – and for good reason.  Not only does it make you realize that you have just wasted a fortune in undeserved benefits and unrecoverable investigation and prosecution costs, but it makes you a habitual cynic, mistrustful of seemingly honest and unfortunate injured workers.

This is especially the case when the act is committed by someone in a position of trust.  Firefighters are a good example.  Policemen are another.  But even the state capitol and its guardians are not immune to the corrupting influence of fraud.

Officer Tony Yao, a California Highway Patrol officer in Sacramento has been charged with felony workers’ compensation fraud.  As alleged, Yao claimed he had a back injury during firearms training while at the Academy, and then claimed his back pain was so severe he could not even do the office work offered to him.  An internal investigation revealed unreported past back injuries, completely unused exercise equipment (perhaps the result of a typical new years’ resolution?)

Given that some public employees such as law enforcement and firefighters tend to receive various beneficial presumptions in workers’ compensation, shouldn’t there be some additional penalties for when they commit acts of fraud?  Perhaps a reader more familiar than your focused blogger could comment as to this.

But if reforms are really in the air for the workers’ compensation system, perhaps additional penalties can be drafted into legislation and regulations to be imposed on the fraudsters who breach the public trust.