Brockton Truck Driver Charged With Unemployment and Workers’ Compensation Fraud

A 51-year-old Brockton man was reportedly charged with collecting over $60,000 in fraudulent unemployment and workers’ compensation benefits in Suffolk. According to a press release that was recently issued by the Massachusetts Attorney General, the man collected both unemployment and workers’ compensation benefit payments at the same time for a period of about 18 months. Under Massachusetts law, a recipient of workers’ compensation benefits may not collect such payments during any week in which he or she received unemployment benefits. Similarly, unemployment benefit recipients may not collect payments while simultaneously receiving total disability workers’ compensation benefit payments.

Following an investigation, the Attorney General’s Office purportedly found that the former truck driver received the double payments after a workplace injury for which he recovered workers’ compensation total disability benefits. The man also apparently applied for and received unemployment assistance, beginning in April 2010 and continuing through December 2011. During this time, the trucker allegedly failed to disclose that he was also receiving workers’ compensation disability benefit payments.

As a result of the Brockton man’s alleged actions, a Suffolk Grand Jury indicted the trucker on 88 charges, including larceny over $250, unemployment fraud, and workers’ compensation fraud. The truck driver will reportedly be arraigned on all charges in October.

According to Attorney General Healey, actions such as those purportedly committed by the Brockton man place an undue burden on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ workers’ compensation and unemployment systems. She added that individuals who seek to defraud the system will be prosecuted because such attempts significantly reduce the benefits available to injured Massachusetts workers.

In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the “no fault” workers’ compensation insurance system protects employers from personal liability for a worker’s on-the-job accident harm. Regardless of who caused an accident, injured workers may recover workers’ compensation benefits rather than suing an employer for personal injury damages in court. Regrettably, the Massachusetts workers’ compensation law is quite complex. Due to this, it is imperative for an injured worker to have an experienced workplace injury lawyer advocating on his or her behalf following a job-related incident.

If you suffered an injury at work in Massachusetts, you should discuss your rights with a hardworking Boston workers’ compensation attorney as soon as you are able. The caring lawyers at Kantrovitz & Associates, P.C. are available to help you recover the financial compensation you deserve based on the severity of your work-related accident harm. To discuss your right to recover workers’ compensation benefits with a dedicated advocate, contact Kantrovitz & Associates, P.C. through our website or give us a call today at 800-367-0871.

Additional Resources:

Brockton man indicted for fraudulent benefits scheme, by Enterprise Staff Report, The Enterprise

Brockton Man Indicted for Larceny, Fraud in $60,000 Benefits Scheme, Attorney General Maura Healey Press Release dated September 17, 2015