New York Drywall Installer Arrested for Failing to Provide Workers’ Comp Insurance

New York State Inspector General Letizia Tagliafierro has announced the arrest of a capital region area drywall installer who allegedly failed to provide legally required workers’ compensation insurance to his employees.

Dennis R. Hammonds, 40, owner and operator of Hammonds Drywall LLC of Schenectady, N.Y., was arrested and arraigned today in Schenectady City Court on two counts of effect of failure to secure compensation, a felony.

New York State Workers’ Compensation Law requires all contractors to carry workers’ compensation insurance for their employees. Failing to carry insurance for more than five employees is a felony.

An investigation by the New York State Workers’ Compensation Fraud Inspector General found that between February 2017 and November 2018, Hammonds worked as a drywall sub-contractor for two general contractors while failing to have required insurance. One of the projects was installing drywall and ceiling work at the Via Port Mall in Rotterdam between May and September 2017.

“Workers’ compensation insurance is an essential and required part of legally doing business in New York State,” Tagliafierro said in a press release issued by the New York Offices of the Inspector General. “Proper coverage protects the employee, the employer and the client in the event of an accident or injury. Neglecting to provide workers’ compensation insurance coverage to employees, as this individual allegedly did, is a crime.”

The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Source: New York Offices of the Inspector General