Jury Trial Starts for Firefighter Accused of Fraud

Wednesday, January 27, 2016 | 0

The trial of a former Palm Beach, Florida firefighter who was videotaped walking in sandals even though his doctor had ordered him to wear an air cast to protect his ankle got underway before a six-person jury on Tuesday, according to a report by the Palm Beach Daily News.

The city fired firefighter Jeremy DeRosa in early 2014, two months after he was charged with workers' compensation fraud. Prosecutors say DeRosa misrepresented the extent of his injury while out of work and collecting full pay through workers' compensation.

DeRosa injured his ankle when he fell in the kitchen at a Palm Beach fire station in July 2013. His doctor ordered him to wear an air cast to protect his ankle, but investigators videotaped him walking in sandals five times after the accident, according to the newspaper.

Public Safety Director Kirk Blouin fired DeRosa after the videotape came to light. By that time, he had collected $4,100 in disability benefits, according to the Daily News.