DWC Finds More Than 1,500 Instances of Late or Unpaid Indemnity Benefits; Audit Fines Top $1M

The California Division of Workers’ Compensation levied more than $1 million in fines for claims-handling violations in 2019, including more than 1,500 instances of companies paying indemnity benefits late or not paying at all, according to a recently released audit report. The division handed out $1,085,626 in penalties as a result of the 2019 audits and ordered companies to make good on $357,661 in unpaid compensation, according to a report the agency prepared for lawmakers. It was at least the sixth time in nearly two decades that penalties topped $1 million, although total unpaid c...