Del Papa, election foe spar over size of fraud unit

Friday, Aug. 14, 1998 | 11:06 a.m.

Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa held press conferences Thursday in Reno and Las Vegas to tout the success of her fraud unit on workers' compensation.

But her Republican opponent, Scott Scherer, says the staff has grown too much, from seven to 31 employees in five years. It's time, he said, for a new attorney general to "closely examine the original mission of all the office's units, what they cost taxpayers and if the cost-benefit is truly in line."

The unit, from its August 1993 beginning through this June, made 433 arrests, prosecuted 546 cases and got 400 convictions, for a total savings of $9.7 million, according to Del Papa and her staff.

"When premiums go up because a company fails to obtain coverage or someone accepts benefits while working another job, or is out water skiing while on disability, or just not returning to work when they should, we all pay the price through higher prices for goods or services," Del Papa said.

The Coalition Against Insurance Fraud released a study earlier this year that Nevada had presented more cases for prosecution and convicted more workers and employers than any other state.

Scherer says it was his bill that created the fraud unit but he never envisioned the staff ballooning as it has. Nevada state government, he said, has two workers for every 100,000 residents, the highest such ratio in the nation.

Scherer also said the fraud unit has failed to pursue felony convictions that "send a clear message to employers, providers and claimants..." not to be involved in fraud.

Del Papa said that while Scherer introduced the bill, there were 40 co-sponsors. "We collaborate with a lot of people on projects. Every good idea has a thousand parents and every bad idea is an orphan," Del Papa said.

Seniors to Meet Candidates

The Nevada Seniors Coalition is holding its annual primary winners candidates day at 10 a.m. Sept. 10 at the Showboat hotel-casino.

Scheduled to attend the event are all the primary winners in the gubernatorial, Senate, Congressional, County Commissioner and Sheriff races. The candidates will be available to answer questions from the audience.

Meet Democratic Candidates

The Paradise Democratic Club is sponsoring a "Meet Your Democratic Candidates Picnic" from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Paradise Park, located at Tropicana Avenue and McLeod Drive.

All Democratic candidates have been invited to attend, speak and set up a table to give out campaign material and meet the public. The picnic is free and the public is invited to attend and meet the candidates. For more information, call 363-2456.

Gibbons to endorse Guinn

CARSON CITY -- Another top Republican -- Nevada Rep. Jim Gibbons -- is endorsing the candidacy of Kenny Guinn for the GOP nomination for governor. Gibbons of Reno is expected to announce today (Friday) his support of Guinn who has already gathered the backing of other top party leaders.