California Caregiver, Daughter Guilty in WC Case

The daughter and the caregiver of a deceased injured worker have pleaded guilty to claim fraud for continuing to collect workers' compensation benefits after the injured worker's death.

Jessie Watson, 63, of Long Beach was an employee of Long Beach Community College District and was receiving workers' comp benefits from the District. Watson died on Feb. 4, 2007 while hospitalized for a condition unrelated to her work injury, but her death was not reported to the District's claim administrator, Keenan & Associates, until May 21, 2007. Watson's caregiver Alesia Ann Mike reportedly continued to bill for home care services through April 30, 2007, nearly three months after the claimant's death. Benefit payments provided to the deceased claimant reportedly continued to be cashed by the claimant's daughter Cardella L. Burtch.

The Keenan claims examiner who discovered the fraud prepared a detailed package of evidence to present to the California Department of Insurance and the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office. The case was jointly investigated with the help of Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Cindy Smith, and Investigator Jo Hudson, who were able to present enough evidence to file charges against Burtch and Mike.

Following the guilty pleas, the deceased woman's daughter was granted five years formal probation and ordered to make restitution order of $2,500. The caregiver was arrested on Sept. 4, 2008 and charged with a felony. She was granted five years formal probation and ordered to make restitution of $4,000.