Louisiana Woman Arrested in Workers’ Comp Case

Louisiana Attorney General Charles Foti, Jr. announced the arrest of a Vernon Parish woman who reportedly manipulated her workers’ compensation program to fraudulently obtain nearly $60,000 in compensation benefits, medical and other expenses.

Attorney General investigators arrested 27-year-old Georgianna Smith, Anacoco, on one count of misrepresentation concerning workers’ comp benefits and one count of theft in excess of $500. Bond was set for Smith at $1000 and she was released.

Smith claimed to have suffered a disabling back injury on the job in March 2001. She reportedly did not reveal any previous injuries on an employment questionnaire in 2000. However, an investigation into her 2001 claim revealed that she had been treated for lower back injuries suffered during an automobile accident in 1998.

Because she did not report her previous injuries, Smith fraudulently collected $29,412 in workers’ comp benefits; $13,935 in temporary total indemnity benefits; $14,662 in medical expenses and $814 in rehabilitation expenses.