La Barbecue manager and owner indicted on fraud charges

The proprietor of an East Austin restaurant and her supervisor have been indicted and summoned to look in Travis County District Court docket for his or her alleged position in a $350,000 staff’ compensation fraud scheme.

Allison Clem, supervisor of l. a. Barbecue, and her spouse, LeAnn Mueller, who owns the meals truck and restaurant are each ordered to look in courtroom September 28.

Again in 2016, an worker of the restaurant suffered extreme accidents whereas working a bit of kitchen tools, and Clem and Mueller discovered concerning the damage that day. 4 days later, Clem contacted Paychex Insurance coverage to get staff’ compensation protection, one thing the restaurant had been with out since November 2014.

In response to a Fraud Unit investigation by the Texas Division of Insurance coverage, Division of Staff’ Compensation (DWC), Clem didn’t disclose her worker’s accidents to the agent however requested that the brand new coverage be backdated to July 1, 2016, three weeks earlier than the worker was damage. Mueller then submitted a signed utility for protection claiming the enterprise had no prior losses and the coverage was authorized by Vacationers Casualty Insurance coverage Firm of America.

When Vacationers acquired the declare for the worker’s damage, they authorized the declare and paid the injured worker greater than $350,000 in medical and indemnity advantages. The insurance coverage firm can be liable for lifetime care of the injured worker.

If discovered responsible in Travis County, Clem and Mueller, could possibly be ordered to pay restitution plus double the quantity Vacationers has already paid in advantages to the injured employee.

In case you suspect staff’ compensation fraud name DWC’s fraud hotline at 844-FRAUD99 (800-252-3439) or go to www.tdi.texas.gov/wc/ci/wcfraud.html.

For extra info, contact DWCCommunications@tdi.texas.gov.