A California insurance broker pleaded guilty to charges of grand theft and insurance fraud for scamming over $4 million from multiple companies on April 6th. Other charges included insurance fraud, transacting as an insurance business without a certificate of authority, forgery, tax fraud, premium fraud, and grand theft by embezzlement. The broker issued false certificates of insurance to four different companies with over 80,000 employees combined.

This kind of insurance fraud is even more malicious than most, as it prevents legitimately hurt workers from claiming benefits that they deserve. According to Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, any defendant who collects millions of dollars to support their own lifestyle deserves to go to prison.

If you have been a victim of workers’ compensation insurance fraud or wish to find out more regarding workers’ compensation law, contact the Philadelphia workers compensation lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. by calling 215-238-1130.

In what is considered a landmark case for the implementation of the Federal Rail Safety Act, designed to protect workers from company retaliation when they report injuries or safety violations, NJ Transit employee Tony Araujo was awarded over $500,000 in a lawsuit against his employer this Wednesday.

After witnessing the electrocution death of his coworker, Araujo was advised by doctors to take a break from work due to post-traumatic stress disorder. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Whistleblower Office, Araujo’s boss did not believe this and suspended him without pay. Araujo was also the target of insults and accusations that he had been responsible for his coworker’s death.

Reports by federal investigators show that NJ Transit disregarded Federal Rail Safety Act regulations and ignored Araujo’s rights. According to spokeswoman Penny Bassett Hackett, NJ Transit intends to appeal this ruling.

Organizations should be held to account through litigation when they do not meet safety requirements or wrongfully treat their employees. If you or a loved one has been injured or wronged in the workplace, contact the Philadelphia workers compensation lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. by calling 215-238-1130.

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration has finalized the requirements for reporting injury and illness at work.

The new rule has changed standards of reporting work-related musculoskeletal disorders in the OSHA 300 log. This log is a record of work-related injury and illness that certain employers are required to have. They must now mark every MSD that have occurred at their place of employment. MSD’s are defined as disorders of the muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, cartilage but not injuries that are caused by slips and falls.

If you or a loved one has suffered from a work-related injury, contact the Philadelphia workers’ compensation lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. by calling 215-238-1130 today.

One man was killed and his co-worker was injured after being involved in an electrical accident while working on the roof of an apartment complex.

The two men were wrapping up the roof and siding of an apartment complex when the ladder they were standing one touched overhead wires and shock the co-workers. One man, age 52 was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after the accident occured. The other man, age 41, suffered electrial burns and was transported to the hospital where he is currently in critical condition. The accident is currently under investigation.

If you or a loved one has been in injured on the job, contact the Philadelphia workers’ compensation lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. by calling 610-667-7511.