Four PA Employers Sentenced For Violating Workers' Compensation Law

Oct. 1, 2003
Four Pennsylvania employers have been sentenced for failing to insure workers' compensation liability of their business.

Section 305 of the Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Act specifies that an employer's failure to insure its workers' compensation liability is a criminal offense and classifies each day's violation as a separate offense, either a third-degree misdemeanor, or, if intentional, a third-degree felony.

Robert L. Keller, owner of R.L. Keller Trucking Inc. of Weedville, was was placed in the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition Program, placed on probation for 12 months, ordered to pay costs of prosecution and restitution of $5,210. Keller Trucking Inc. was placed on 12 months' consecutive probation and ordered to pay $868 in costs and fees. Keller Trucking is currently in compliance with the Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Law.

John A. Sessa, owner of Sign Advantage Inc. in Drexel Hill, pleaded guilty to one third-degree misdemeanor count, was placed on probation for one year, ordered to have no contact with the injured employee, and to pay costs of prosecution and restitution of $36,604 to the injured employee. The company is no longer operating with employees, according to Pennsylvania BWC records.

Joseph Seals III, owner of Top Dog Construction in Nazareth, was put on 12 months' nominal probation, placed in the county's Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition Program for first-time offenders, and ordered to pay all court costs and restitution of $30,275 for injuries sustained by his employees. Top Dog Construction is in compliance with the Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Law.

Tara D. Robinson, owner of Schuylkill Sandblasting in Orwigsburg, pleaded guilty to one felony count, was placed on probation for 13 months, ordered to pay the costs of prosecution and a monthly administrative fee, and fined $7,000. Schuylkill Sandblasting is currently in compliance with the Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Law.

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.

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