Washington appoints assistant attorney general

Washington’s Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) said that the State Attorney General’s Office has assigned a full-time assistant attorney general, Susan R. DanPullo, to assist the agency in combating workers’ compensation fraud. The newly assigned attorney will develop fraud cases for criminal prosecution.

“We work closely with county prosecutors and appreciate their strong support. However, they can be overloaded,” said Carl Hammersburg, manager of L&I’s Fraud Prevention and Compliance Program. “Having this new attorney gives us the ability to support local prosecutors or act as co-counsel, or – when they already have their hands full – to prosecute the cases ourselves.”

Hammersburg said the addition of a new, full-time attorney gives L&I another tool for cracking down on fraud and financial abuse by workers, providers and employers.

DanPullo has been with the Attorney General’s Office since 2003, with previous experience in private practice and more than six years in the Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

Anyone who suspects fraud may call L&I’s fraud hotline at 1-888-811-5974 or go to www.Fraud.LNI.wa.gov.