Comp Insurance Fraud Violator Convicted in Utah

April 18, 2003
Blake Winward, a 45 year-old Cache County, Utah, resident, was convicted of workers' compensation insurance fraud, a third-degree felony.

Winward was sentenced to up to five years in the Utah State Prison, but the sentence was suspended. He was also ordered to pay restitution of more than $8,000 to the state's Workers' Compensation Fund (WCF).

In September 2000, Winward sustained a wrist injury while working for an automotive and diesel maintenance and repair shop based in Richmond, Utah. WCF accepted liability on this claim and provided medical and compensation benefits to Winward.

WCF investigators were alerted to potential fraud in April 2002 when a Utah State Employment Security report indicated Winward was receiving wages from Bridgerland Applied Technology Center in Logan, Utah, while still receiving total temporary disability from WCF. Following some research and interviews, WCF's Special Investigations Unit determined Winward had fraudulently obtained lost-time benefits to which he was not entitled.

According to the Utah State Insurance Department's fraud division, workers' compensation fraud costs Utah businesses $34.2 million annually. WCF's Special Investigations Unit helped save Utah businesses approximately $5 million in 2002, while total savings has reached $47.1 million since the unit's inception in late 1992.

About the Author

Sandy Smith

Sandy Smith is the former content director of EHS Today, and is currently the EHSQ content & community lead at Intelex Technologies Inc. She has written about occupational safety and health and environmental issues since 1990.

Sponsored Recommendations

June 23, 2025
With the right workplace health and safety training, your organization can reduce risk and protect your employees.
June 23, 2025
This article covers the key steps to build a reliable SDS management program, from organizing your inventory and sourcing updated SDS to ensuring easy access and regular maintenance...
June 23, 2025
It's time to get a bit more granular and start to examine the types of metrics EHS departments should be tracking, starting with lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR).
June 23, 2025
With the number of lone workers on the rise, here are five facts every employer should know about lone working.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!