Ilinois prison guard workers comp records subpoenaed by the feds
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, an investigation was launched by the Feds in a criminal probe of workers' compensation claims filed by more than 200 prison guards at Illinois Menard Correctional Center in additon to three Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission arbitrators.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported that supboenas were issued by the U.S. Attorney's Office in February. The subpoenas are looking for workers' compensation records for claims filed since the beginning of 2006 by "scores of government employees." The Department of Corrections, the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission, the Department of Central Management Services and the Department of Insurance all received the supboenas.
The Belleville News-Democrat reported that Govenor Quinn intends on introducing workers' comp reform legislation. Quinn praised the feds duirng a press conference at Southwestern Illinois college.
"We need to get to the bottom of everything and I'm very happy that this is happening," Quinn said.
According to the News-Democrat report, since 2008, 389 prison employees including the warden, received over $10,000,000 in workers compensation benefits. Over 200 prison guards file claims for repetitive stress injuries purportedly caused by the locking and unlocking of cell doors in the prison.
Two Illinois Workers' Compensation arbitrators were the subject of a supboena issued by the Feds on Feb 14. The subpoena sought emails, personnel records and reimburse documents
for Arbitrator John Dibble and Jennifer Teague. The subpoena was looking for records as far back as 2006. The Illinois Workers' Compensation place both the arbitrators on administrative leave. The Sun-Times reported that arbitrators earn $115,836 a year. The arbitrators were place on leave on Feb. 15
The personnel records for Arbitrator Andrew Nalefsi were also requested by the feds. He remains on the job.
