Records indicate the Ohio man, owner of a bear that mauled its caretaker to death, did not have workplace injury insurance to cover the man, an apparent violation of state law.
According to the Associated Press, an Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation spokesperson stated investigators were looking into whether Sam Mazzola had paid 24-year-old Brent Kendra or other employees since coverage lapsed in late 2005. (WCxKit)
Ohio requires business owners who pay even one employee to carry insurance in the event of injury or death, the spokesperson said.
OSHA, regulator of workplace safety, is also attempting to determine whether Brent Kendra was Mazola’s employee or just a friend who occasionally assisted Mazzola.
Brent Kendra was mauledAugust 19 after opening the bear's cage for a feeding at the home where Mazzola maintains his exotic animal menagerie of bears, tigers, wolves and a lion. Kendra died the next day.
John Kendra indicated his son worked for several of Mazola’s businesses over a number of years, erecting highway guardrails and fences, overseeing petting zoos Mazzola would take to malls, staffing his pair of pet stores or feeding the exotic beasts.
"Basically he was a part-time, fill-in guy. He had just started back after not working for him for a year," John Kendra commented. "He'd work part time on his days off so he didn't collect a paycheck. He'd be paid $20 or $40 in cash on a day off, probably under the table, and Sam would feed him dinner. They were friends."
The Ohio WCB spokesperson said investigators are looking for evidence Brent Kendra worked for Mazzola, like canceled checks, lists of duties or work schedules. (WCxKit)
She added the state was seeking $5,379.78 in unpaid workers comp premiums when Mazzola filed for bankruptcy last year. After he informed the state his business, World Animal Studios, had halted operations in 2005, the state decreased his bill for outstanding premiums to $27.47.
Author Rebecca Shafer, JD, President of Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. is a national expert in the field of workers compensation. She is a writer, speaker and website publisher. Her expertise is working with employers to reduce workers compensation costs, and her clients include airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. RShafer@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com or 860-553-6604.
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