Report: Hearing Over Inmates' Entitlement to Comp Starts

Monday, August 20, 2018 | 0

A hearing intended to determine whether inmates in Fresno County who were injured while assigned to a work crew are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits started Thursday, according to a report by the Fresno Bee.

The county says inmates injured in a 2015 explosion caused by a county worker striking a gas pipeline are covered by workers’ compensation. The inmates said they didn’t receive any remuneration, so they weren’t covered by workers’ compensation and can proceed with a civil lawsuit.

Efrain Garcia reportedly testified on Thursday that he was working without compensation at the time of the explosion. Speaking through a translator, he said he was working at the Sheriff's Foundation shooting range “against my will.”

Inmate Kao Hang reportedly said he agreed to work on the assignment out of fear of being beaten by guards. Hang reportedly testified that he once heard an inmate tell a guard, “No,” disappear for a while and come back with bruises.

Trial is scheduled to resume in December. The Bee said conflicts between schedules caused the delay.