The “F-Word” In Workers’ Comp: Fraud. Not Always The Employer?

Let’s talk about the F-word in Workers’ Compensation: Fraud. Guest Connor Thomson is a second-year law student at Villanova University who won the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers John F. Burton Jr. Law Student Writing Competition with his paper “Fight Fire With Fire: The Need For Carriers To Be Afforded More Duties And Privileges To Combat The Pandemic Of Workers’ Compensation Insurance Fraud.” He explores an interesting, challenging issue in Workers’ Comp: Are employees sometimes cheating the system? Workers’ Comp insurance fraud is a multibillion issue. Thomson takes a deep dive. The system does a lot of good, and employer fraud hurts workers. It happens. All fraud is wrong. But sometimes employees cheat, they collect a check for a workplace disability, but they work on the side, maybe under the table. That’s not a victimless crime either. It hurts us all, Thomson argues. Sure, employers do check on workers who file claims, including the use of private investigators. And that comes with its own issues. But Thomson says controlling insurance fraud may have its place. If carriers can’t investigate, does everyone suffer because of higher insurance costs? This is an intriguing issue. Mentioned in this Episode: Workers Comp Matters, “Dissecting Fraud” Connor Thomson “Fight Fire With Fire: The Need For Carriers To Be Afforded More Duties And Privileges To Combat The Pandemic Of Workers’ Compensation Insurance Fraud” College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers John F. Burton Jr. Student Writing Competition Coalition Against Insurance Fraud Coalition Against Insurance Fraud study and findings Insurance Journal articles on Workers’ Comp fraud Jesse Maxwell v. AIG Domestic Claims Frontline, “The Myth Of Workers’ Compensation Fraud” Workers Comp Matters, Legal Talk Network, archived episode, “The History of Workers’ Compensation With John F. Burton Jr.”