VRC Investigations is proud to partner with the CA DOI in combating WC Fraud. The below article was published by “CA DOI SIU E-Blast 2020” on 2/14/2020 and VRC Investigations’ SIU was honored to work as a team with the carrier and law enforcement to assist in identifying, investigating and combating insurance fraud.
La Mesa IHOP cook arrested for workers’ compensation fraud
Cook allegedly filed a false insurance claim to collect unearned workers’ comp benefits after play wrestling on the job
SAN DIEGO, Calif. — California Department of Insurance detectives arrested Jonathan Quezada, 28, on multiple felony counts of insurance fraud and workers’ compensation insurance fraud after he allegedly falsified an insurance claim to receive unearned workers’ compensation benefits costing Californians over $22,000.
“The workers’ compensation system is intended to help honest workers who get hurt while doing their jobs get the benefits and assistance they need to support themselves and their families while they recover,” said Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. “When people file fraudulent workers’ compensation claims they take advantage of this system and cost Californians millions of dollars every year in higher premiums.”
Quezada was working as a cook at an IHOP in La Mesa when he fractured his clavicle. He filed a workers’ compensation claim with his employer stating he got hurt at work while performing his normal job duties and told his employer and insurance representatives that he was cleaning grill grates in the IHOP kitchen when he slipped and fell.
After receiving a referral from the Preferred Employers Insurance Company, the California Department of Insurance launched an investigation which revealed Quezada lied about the circumstances of his injury. Surveillance video showed he was injured at work, but that his injury was a result of play wrestling with a coworker, not performing his normal job duties as he claimed. Quezada’s allegedly false statements allowed him to receive workers’ compensation benefits he was not entitled to, which cost Californians $22,781.
Media Contact
Phone: 800-654-2185 option 7
Email: pr@vrcinvestigations.com
