Video shows man working while receiving workers’ comp
May 6, 2011 by Fred HosierPosted in: construction safety, In this week's e-newsletter, Investigations, Latest News & Views, Workers' comp
PDF Anonymous tips and video surveillance can pay off for companies in workers’ comp cases.
Luiz Paneto of Cleveland has been sentenced to five years of community control and has been ordered to pay restitution and investigative costs totaling more than $43,000 in connection with workers’ comp fraud.
The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) received an anonymous complaint that Paneto was working for a home remodeling company as a laborer. BWC’s Special Investigations Department taped Paneto walking, lifting heavy construction materials, driving his truck and performing other home remodeling work at numerous houses. You can see the video here.
Paneto was injured while working in construction in 2001. He received temporary total disability benefits until he was granted permanent total disability in 2007.
In an interview at a job site in April 2010, Paneto said he knew he was prohibited from working while receiving workers’ comp benefits. He later attended a BWC hearing wearing an ankle brace and walking with a cane.
Has your company ever uncovered workers’ comp fraud by a former employee? Let us know in the Comments Box below.
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Tags: permanent total disability, Video, workers' comp fraud
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May 11th, 2011 at 9:40 am
I NEW ONE ABOUT AN EX EMPLOYEE THAT CLAIM BACK INJURY nd was colecting workers comp I reported to the insurance numerous time that this particular ex employee was playing softball and I give them the places and times where they can go an video tape him but insurance didnt do anything about it
May 12th, 2011 at 1:37 pm
I’ve heard stories that one of our ex-employees who is supposedly disabled for chronic back problems still plays golf. I can’t get any specifics so I can’t go anywhere with it.
August 2nd, 2011 at 1:21 pm
If you have an employee you believe that is performing activities that is not indicated by their work restriction or off-the-job activities, in most states you are allowed to hire a private investigator and they will video the employee. This preserves evidence that there is a possible fraud and you can submit that evidence to your state’s work comp comission and possibly get some relief from a fraudlent claim.