A Spokane, Washington woman who ran an adult family home while claiming she was too injured to work faces a felony charge in a $60,000 workers’ compensation fraud case.
Serah Kamau, 52, reportedly operated her business, Brookhouse Adult Family Home, for 15 months in 2021 and 2022 while still collecting wage-replacement benefits from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries.
Charging papers allege Kamau stole more than $60,000 in wage-replacement payments from the state fund that supports injured workers.
Kamau injured her right shoulder while working with patients as a licensed practical nurse at Eastern State Hospital in early 2021. Several months later she reportedly filed an L&I injury claim and stopped working at the hospital because of the injury.
In June 2021, she began receiving payments to replace part of her lost wages after her physician reportedly certified that Kamau’s injury was so severe she could not work, according to charging papers.
In October 2022, an L&I claims manager asked investigators to take a closer look at Kamau after she declined to accept a light-duty position at the state hospital. And investigation later revealed that Kamau was operating an adult family care facility out of her own home in Spokane.
Brookhouse Adult Family Home provided 24-hour care for clients with dementia and mental disabilities through contracts Kamau signed with the state Department of Social and Health Services, according to charging papers.
About a week after filing her L&I injury claim in June 2021, Kamau signed the first of three DSHS contracts to care for clients at Brookhouse. She reportedly billed DSHS for in-home, client care services from late September 2021 through December 2022. During the same period, she received wage-replacement payments, according to the charging papers.
Kamau pleaded not guilty in Spokane County Superior Court to one count of first-degree theft. The court set Kamau’s trial for Sept. 23. The Washington State Office of the Attorney General is prosecuting the case.
Kamau has reportedly repaid L&I $68,878 for the benefits plus a $34,439 penalty under an earlier administrative order.
Topics Workers' Compensation Washington
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