It Figures

$838,000

Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster’s office assessed more than $838,000 for workers’ compensation fraud and insurance coverage noncompliance in 2009, a dramatic increase over the $461,000 assessed in 2008. The AG said his office last year filed charges against 27 violators for workers’ compensation fraud, compared with eight in the previous year. The collected funds go to the State Workers’ Compensation Fund or to make restitution for victims of workers’ compensation fraud violations. Koster credited the increase in charges and collections with staff realignment to dedicate more resources to prosecuting workers’ compensation fraud and cases involving insurance noncompliance. The AG’s office currently is prosecuting 183 cases for workers’ compensation fraud or insurance noncompliance.