View this article online: https://www.claimsjournal.com/news/east/2005/12/06/62775.htm
Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett announced that agents from the Attorney General’s Insurance Fraud Section have filed criminal charges against a Delaware County man accused of filing a fraudulent workers’ compensation claim.
Corbett identified the defendant as Anthony Oruska, 39, of Havertown, Delaware County.
The charges allege that in January 2001 Oruska filed a workers’ comp claim asserting that he had sustained injuries to his lower back, right leg, and neck as a result of a work related injury. Oruska’s claim stated that he had to stop working due to these work related injuries.
According to the criminal complaint, during a legal deposition related to the injury claim Oruska repeatedly denied any prior injuries to his back, leg or neck. The charges state that Oruska acknowledged being involved in two accidents during the late 1980’s but denied being involved in any other accidents.
Corbett said that the charges state that Oruska had been involved in an automobile accident in August of 1998 and was treated for injuries to his neck as well as back pain. On the day that he filed his workers’ comp claim the defendant was examined by a doctor and advised the doctor that he had injured his neck as a result of an auto accident in 1998.
Corbett said that Oruska’s employer’s insurer was unaware of his 1998 accident and resulting injuries and therefore settled his workers’ comp claim. On Nov. 27, 2002, Oruska received $120,000 in lost wages and nearly $52,000 in medical bills.
The defendant is charged with one count of workers’ comp fraud and three counts of theft by deception. Each count is a third degree felony and carries a maximum penalty of up to seven years in prison a $15,000 fine.
Oruska was preliminarily arraigned before Upper Darby Magisterial District Judge Christopher Mattox and released on $5,000 unsecured bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 20, 2006.