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| | Parks And Recreation Worker Exploits Lyme Disease Diagnosis For $364,000 Through A Fraudulent Workers' Compensation Claim
By Lonce LaMon - May 8, 2014
Susette Boggs was arrested on April 17th 2014 under the authority of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office for alleged workers’ compensation fraud. The 52-year-old had worked for the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation for more than 10 years at the Placerita Canyon Nature Center in Newhall. Her job duties included handling a variety of animals including owls, skunks, reptiles, and opossums.
Boggs reported that she had been bitten by a tick, contracted Lyme disease, and as a result filed a workers’ compensation claim. The date of injury was stated as April 19th 2007.
The symptoms Suzette Boggs claimed ranged from long term headaches, joint pain, weakness in her hands, itchy skin, blurred vision, extreme light sensitivity, tiredness, aches and pain everywhere, dizziness and lightheadedness to anxiety and depression, trouble with memory, stuttering with trouble finding words, and anger. She claimed these symptoms prevented her from working and made her daily life miserable. According to physicians’ records she had difficulty sitting for long periods due to pain, and had trouble holding items due to weakness in her hands.
But an investigation into Susan Boggs workers’ compensation claim revealed that she misrepresented her involvement in a band as a drummer and singer to her doctors. Video evidence showed Boggs maintained a physically active lifestyle as a drummer/singer in a band since 2007, in direct conflict with symptoms she reported to her physicians about her physical capabilities.
The videos greatly impacted her physicians’ opinions as to whether Boggs was 100 percent physically disabled. Since reviewing the videos, her physicians have concluded that Boggs is capable of gainful employment. Her involvement in the band was evidence that she maintained a physically active lifestyle as a drummer and singer since 2007. This was in direct conflict with symptoms she reported to her physicians about her physical capabilities. This reversal of the medical diagnosis impacts her workers’ compensation benefits.
Her 100% permanent disability exposure was valued at $409,552. After review of the video evidence, the final permanent disability value was lowered to 39% permanent disability or $44,620. This created a total loss of $364,932.
If Susette Boggs is convicted, she faces a potential sentencing of between 12 to 30 years in prison and restitution of $364,932.
Information taken from a Press Release issued by the California Department of Insurance.
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