Nassau County (New York) District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that a Town of Hempstead sanitation worker was arrested recently for wrongfully collecting more than $7,500 in disability insurance, after claiming that he was injured during the course of his job when he allegedly injured himself near a bar in New Hyde Park.
Kevin Breen, 27, of New Hyde Park, was arraigned before District Court Judge Joseph Girardi on charges of Grand Larceny in the 3rd Degree (a D felony), Insurance Fraud in the 3rd Degree (a D felony), Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the 1st Degree (an E felony) and violating Section 114.1 of the New York State Workers Compensation Law (an E felony). The defendant was conditionally released to probation and was due back in court at a later time. If convicted of the charge Breen faces up to 2-1/3 to 7 years in prison.
Singas said that Breen, employed by the Town of Hempstead Department of Sanitation as a part time laborer, was allegedly injured after a night out at Charlie Bullfrog’s bar in New Hyde Park on October 2. The defendant was allegedly intoxicated and fell through a plate glass window of an empty storefront and injured his hand, lacerating tendons and nerves. He was taken to Winthrop University Hospital.
Breen was suspended from his job for seven days, beginning Oct. 1.
The defendant claimed he was injured while working for the town on Sept. 29. He allegedly claimed that he jumped off a truck while it was still moving and injured his hand as he attempted to break his fall. Breen then applied to the Town of Hempstead for disability payments.
Breen allegedly collected disability insurance from Nov. 12 to Jan. 21, and the Town of Hempstead paid a total of more than $7,500, including medical payments. On March 11, the Workers Compensation Board held a hearing and determined that Breen had violated the law. The claim was disallowed and the average weekly wage and lost time was rescinded.
The defendant was then terminated by the Town of Hempstead on March 30.
Author Kori Shafer-Stack, Editor, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. is an expert in post-injury response procedures and part of the Amaxx team helping companies reduce their workers compensation costs by 20% to 50%. www.reduceyourworkerscomp.com. Contact: kstack@reduceyourworkerscomp.com.
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