Pinned With Fraud Charges, Man Surrenders

Sher Singh, 47, of Rancho Cordova, Calif., surrendered to authorities Feb. 21 and was booked into the Santa Clara County Jail for alleged insurance fraud.

On May 11, 1999, Singh allegedly injured his back after bending down to add support pins to a printer he was assembling while employed with Smart Modular Technologies in Fremont, Calif. Singh filed a workers’ compensation claim and subsequently received bi-weekly Total Temporary Disability (TTD) benefits from Fremont Compensation Insurance Company.

Singh allegedly misrepresented and exaggerated the true extent of his physical abilities and limitations to his primary treating physician. He told his primary treating physician on several occasions, and stated in a sworn deposition, that he could not drive, bend, stand or lift objects without constant pain to his lower back. Singh also allegedly denied having filed any previous workers’ comp claims at his sworn deposition.

An investigation revealed that Singh engaged in activities beyond his stated physical abilities as well as a prior workers’ comp claim made in 1994 for an alleged injury to Singh’s back while he was employed at a convenience store in San Jose.

Singh’s primary treating physician stated that Singh misrepresented himself at every office visit as having severe pain and being severely limited functionally. He alleged that Singh was not completely honest and truthful with him and Singh could have returned to work without restrictions as of Sept. 1999.

During this same time period, Singh moved from San Jose to Rancho Cordova and purchased a convenience store with his wife. Singh received $7,312.02 in TTD benefits as a result of his allegedly fraudulent workers’ comp claim.

Topics Fraud Workers' Compensation