A former Los Angeles Unified School District police officer, Pedro Plascencia, was arrested last month for workers’ compensation fraud. He was charged with presenting a false material statement, concealment, and perjury for attempting to defraud the insurance company by exaggerating the extent of his injuries.
Plascencia allegedly sustained a work-related injury while patrolling the school campus on his patrol bicycle he ran over a wayward cantaloupe and lost control of his bicycle.
He originally claimed injury to his right knee, right foot and right hand, but after obtaining legal counsel he added injury to his back, hips and both knees. He originally denied any prior medical injury, however subpoenaed medical records indicated that Plascencia, did in fact, sustain prior injuries to those body parts.
Plascencia’s permanent disability finding was changed when the treating doctor was supplied with the medical records reflecting the true injury history. Had the department not stepped in and assisted Plascencia would have unfairly received approximately an additional $15,000 in permanent disability benefits.
Source: California Department of Insurance
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