Ranch Worker Accused of Falsifying Extent of Injuries

Friday, September 15, 2017 | 0

A Northern California ranch worker was charged with fraud for allegedly lying to an agreed medical evaluator about physical limitations following a back injury, Intercare Holdings Insurance Solutions announced.

Onofre Farias-Madrigal was arraigned Monday on two felony counts of making false statements to obtain insurance benefits.

Farias-Madrigal injured his lower back Oct. 16, 2015, while working in a shop at Manna Ranch near Lodi. He was diagnosed with a low back strain and released to work with restrictions including no lifting, pushing or pulling more than 2.5 pounds, no climbing, kneeling, squatting or bending, and no more than two hours of standing or walking per shift.

He continued to complain of severe pain and was placed on temporary total disability status on Oct. 21, 2015.

On three days in April 2016, investigators allegedly obtained surveillance footage of Farias-Madrigal carrying his child, raking leaves, performing yard work and running errands.

In February 2017, he told an agreed medical evaluator that he couldn’t lift or carry anything and could walk only short distances. The AME said Farias-Madrigal reached maximum medical improvement and assigned a whole person impairment of 6%.

After reviewing the surveillance footage, the AME filed a supplemental report saying Farias-Madrigal overstated his symptoms and understated his capabilities. The AME said Farias-Madrigal would have been able to work as early as April 2016 and that he had no whole person impairment.

The San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office filed charges against Farias-Madrigal on Aug. 9.

Farias-Madrigal is scheduled to make his next court appearance on Oct. 3.