A:Yes, in fact the California Department of Justice has suggested I contact State Fund.

A:No, I would like to reach a settlement and be assured that there will be some real oversight put into place to protect other injured workers and their families.

A:I do not know what they are thinking at this point. All I know is that the longer this continues, even more people will realize that I was right and see that I am not the only victim. State Fund should be aware, I will not simply give up and go away and, that there are people who are prepared to continue my fight should something happen to me.

A:At times I feel that way, particularly when no one in any Department within the State that knows about this case and has the authority to step in and help me or at least provide me with some sort of assistance will do so.

A:Besides the fact that it is Insurance Company money that funds that unit (through the Fraud Assessment Commission). There had also been personnel changes. Lauren weis was forced to take a postion in the Workers' Comp. Fraud Unit in retaliation for supporting Steve Cooley's opponent Gil Garcetti. Lauren Weis was so displeased with the transfer that she even filed an official grievance. Kristie Hutchinson, who was the driving force behind getting the case investigated, left her postion as Special Assistant for the Workers Compensation Fraud Unit.
   So between State Fund's influence (via FAC money), Lauren Weis' 'Eye-for-an-Eye', and Kristie Hutchinson's leaving. Justice went out the window.

A:Yes, I am injured. Unfortunately scar tissue in the lungs and an irregular heart beat is not something that can be seen by someone who doesn't have a set of x-rays and the proper equipment. If my injury wasn't internal, had my arm been sheared off and the bloody stump laying inside a machine at my employers, there would be no question.

However my exposure to plastic smoke/fumes/fires is well documented, see State Fund's own Job Site Report, which has this rather damning paragraph:
"Fumes are emitted when this occurs though the ceiling fan is designed to prevent this. In fact there is a visible cloud coming off the front of the machine near the operator."

Now take into account what plastic is made from and what happens when it is heated or burned, and you'll see that prolonged exposure to carcinogens and nerve agents is not good. Now, how am I able to protest? Well, you'll notice that I'm not out there every day or for very long. I have good days where my heart behaves and I cough just a few times, and I have bad days where my heart will race and skip beats willy-nilly and I can't catch my breath, or I'll have coughing fits.

A:I get asked this question over and over. From what I have learned, people are intimidated and don't want to take on State Fund for fear of damaging their careers. It is about money and power. If you read this letter that I was asked to write, it will become quite clear what is going on in the Workers' Compensation system.

A:Their motive was simply to save a little money. After their own investigation, State Fund realized that they were obligated to award me with a 100% payout, including lifetime medical. With my heart and lung problems, it could have cost State Fund well over a million dollars. Instead, they intentionally falsified the documents to prevent the payout.

A:If State Fund did not condone the actions taken on my case, they would have turned over the files on my case, gotten rid of the people committing the fraud, and cleaned up their system. Instead, State Fund hired lawyers from high-power law firms to keep the files sealed and get their own in-house attorneys off the hook.