Watch Evidence: Hitting Yourself Does Not Equal A Workers Comp Claim

Florida’s Department of Financial Services’ Division of Investigative and Forensic Services (DIFS) recently announced the arrest of Sheyla Veronica White following her attempt to fraudulently collect workers compensation payments following an alleged on-the-job injury.

Claimed Sprinkle Head Fell From Ceiling and Struck Head

White claimed that a sprinkler head fell from the ceiling, bounced off her desk, and struck her in the head. Her employer, Cinque Terre Energy Partners, LLC promptly filed a compensation claim related to the alleged injury. Video surveillance footage later proved a different series of events surrounding the alleged injury.

Cinque Terre’s insurance company, AmTrust North America, grew suspicious of White’s claim and referred the incident to the Division of Investigative and Forensic Services for review and possible investigation. As part of their subsequent investigation, DIFS detectives requested video footage from Cinque Terre’s security cameras, which confirmed AmTrust’s suspicions that the claim was fraudulent.

The video clearly shows a piece of a sprinkler head falling onto White’s desk, but it does not bounce and strike her in the head as she alleged. Instead, the video shows White picking up the broken item, looking around to ensure she was alone in the room, and then striking herself in the head with the item. Watch video here.

Arrested and Transported to Jail

White was arrested and transported to the Broward County Jail. She faces two counts of workers comp fraud, and faces up to five years in prison if convicted.

White was previously arrested in 2010 for stealing students’ personal identification information while working as a teacher at Monarch High School in Coconut Creek.

Sheyla White was using the named Sheyla Diaz at that time, and she was sentenced to six months house arrest for that offense.

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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Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker, attorney, or qualified professional.