Workers compensation can be a godsend for those who are unable to work due to a work-related illness or injury but, as with many other schemes, there are always a few dishonest claimants giving the rest of us a bad name. While the clear majority of workers compensation claims are filed by genuine individuals, people like former NFL player Marcus Buckley, mean that employers and their insurers, approach claims with an air of mistrust. 46-year-old Buckley, who played for the New York Giants from 1993 to 2000, was jailed at the end of January for his involvement in a $1.5 million workers compensation fraud scheme.
Buckley made his first workers compensation claim in 2006 when he filed for the cumulative effect of injuries picked up during his football career. In 2010, Buckley, the New York Giants, and the firm who handled their workers compensation claims, Pennsylvania Manufacturer’s Association Insurance Group (PMA), agreed on a $300,000 settlement, and so his claim was closed.
However, Buckley went on to submit several fraudulent workers compensation claims between 2010 and 2011, using falsified notices from credit collection agencies to seek payment for medical bills which were, apparently, past due. These claims were made with the help of Kimberley Jones, a claims adjustor at a firm managing PMA’s California-based workers compensation claims. Due to the scheming of the pair, Buckley obtained around $1.58 million in fraudulent payments.
Buckley has now been ordered to repay this amount in full, in addition to serving 24 months in federal prison. Jones has also been sentenced to prison for her part in the fraud.
Whatever you may have thought of Buckley’s skills on a football field, his approach to workers compensation is definitely not to be admired. If unlike Buckley, you’re facing genuine medical bills and related expenses, but are having trouble getting your workers compensation claim approved, you need help from an expert workers compensation lawyer in Los Angeles.
No matter how complex your case is, an attorney from the Law Offices of Kropach & Kropach can apply their well-practiced, comprehensive and aggressive approach, which has garnered much success to date. We are committed to doing everything within our power to ensure every client we represent experiences success – we won’t even charge a fee unless you win compensation. Our legal representation is available to those in several areas of California, including Encino, Santa Clarita, Los Angeles County, and San Fernando Valley. Being away from work and unable to earn due to a work-related injury or illness is a stressful time, so let us take on the burden of dealing with your claim.
Don’t let insurance companies dictate unfavorable terms for your workers compensation claim – call us today on 818-609-7005 and get a Los Angeles workers compensation lawyer with a proven track record of success onto your team. As soon as you become a client of the Law Offices of Kropach & Kropach, we will be committed to building the strongest case possible on your behalf.
