Construction Company Owner in Florida Arrested After Allegedly Failing to Pay $95,000 in Workers’ Comp Premiums
Most employers in the State of Florida are required to purchase workers’ compensation insurance so that it can be used in the event an employee suffers a work-related injury or becomes ill as a result of working. Workers’ comp generally covers all the care a worker will need in order to get better or reach a point of Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI). It also pays injured workers who are unable to work a portion of the wages they were earning prior to the accident.
When a business owner neglects to purchase workers’ comp insurance, it not only puts employees in a bad position as they won’t have access to medical and wage replacement benefits, but it also puts an employer at risk of being sued. One company in Florida was accused of this in 2020 and could be facing civil and criminal penalties because of it.
Construction Company Owner Accused of Committing Workers’ Compensation Premium Fraud
The owner of a Florida-based construction company was arrested after being accused of “concealing payroll information to avoid paying more than $95,000 in workers’ compensation premiums,” according to the Insurance Journal.
The DFS Bureau of Investigative and Forensic Services, Division of Workers’ Compensation Fraud says the construction owner “conducted more than $1.5 million in payroll during the policy period but instead, reported that he paid $68,648 in payroll for the entire year. This mix-up of information allowed the owner to avoid having to pay more than $95,000 in workers’ comp premiums.
The Insurance Journal says the owner surrendered himself to fraud detectives and was charged with workers’ compensation premium fraud, grand theft, and organized scheme to defraud. These charges could land him in jail for up to 25 years if he is convicted.
What can an employee in Golden Beach, FL do if their employer is not carrying workers’ comp insurance?
Workers’ compensation serves as protection to employees who get hurt on the job. Without this insurance, injured workers may not be able to obtain the medical care they need or take time off from work so their injuries can heal. If an employee in Golden Beach, FL is unable to recover workers’ comp benefits, whether it is because their employer is not insured or because they are refusing to file a claim for them, they should contact a Golden Beach work injury attorney.
The attorneys at Mario Trespalacios P.A. would be happy to explain what an injured worker’s rights are in either situation and provide them with the legal representation they may need.
Mario Trespalacios P.A. can be contacted at:
9495 SW 72 Street, Suite B-275
Miami, FL 33173
Phone: 305-261-5800
Website: www.mtpalegal.com
