Wrong Time for a Career Change

Jo Blackmore of Van Nuys was arrested on workers’ comp fraud. The 55-year-old real estate agent continued to work while receiving disability benefits.

According to CDI fraud investigators, on April 28, 1998, Blackmore filed a workers’ comp claim with State Farm Insurance Company alleging that she suffered an injury to her right hand. At the time, she was working as a hair stylist for Cost Cutters in Saugus. As a result of the claim, Blackmore was placed on total temporary disability from April 29, 1998, through Oct. 28, 1998, and was awarded temporary disability benefit payments during those six months.

During two separate medical exams, Blackmore told her doctor that she had not worked while on disability; however, the investigation revealed that Blackmore had worked as a real estate agent during her disability period and had received $6,777 in real estate commissions during that time.