New Zealand’s Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) welcomed the conviction of Kerol Ann Smith-Goodwill who pleaded guilty in the Pukekohe District Court this month to defrauding ACC.
According to an ACC report, Smith-Goodwill, unemployed of Waiuku, was convicted of six charges – five for making a false statement to ACC, and one for willfully misleading ACC. (WCxKit)
Smith-Goodwill pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced to 80 hours of community work. She was also ordered to pay reparation of $16,658.14.
The charges related to a nine-month period between July 2008 and March 2009 during which Smith-Goodwill worked fulltime while continuing to receive weekly compensation from ACC.
Weekly compensation was paid by ACC on the basis that Ms Smith-Goodwill was fully unfit for work, as the result of a back injury received in July 2008.
When weekly compensation was granted, Smith-Goodwill was advised she must tell ACC if she resumed any type of employment and was reminded of this obligation in subsequent meetings with ACC staff. However, during these meetings she made no mention of the fact that she had started fulltime work with Ecomist Systems Ltd. as a sales representative.
While working full-time, Smith-Goodwill continued to supply medical certificates to ACC, declaring she remained fully unfit for work.
ACC launched an investigation into Smith-Goodwill’s situation as a result of information received. When interviewed by an ACC representative, Smith-Goodwill said she understood the requirement to advise ACC if she returned to work. (WCxKit)
She also said she knew she should not have been working while obtaining medical certificates saying she was unable to work.
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
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