Senator fails to pay workers’ insurance premium

Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2001 | 10:59 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- State Sen. Maurice Washington wants the workers compensation system to pay the medical bills for an injury he suffered in a charity basketball game, but he wouldn't buy similar industrial insurance coverage for his own employees at a child care center he operates in Sparks.

Records in the justice court in Sparks show the Center of Hope Christina Fellowship Inc., of which Washington is president, was convicted of the misdemeanor of failure to secure an industrial insurance policy to protect his workers who might be injured on the job.

Washington, an ordained minister, entered a plea of no contest, was fined $70 and ordered to pay $50 in court costs on May 2 this year.

Washington could not be reached for comment Tuesday, but he told state investigators he believed his program to be within the rabbi-clergy exception to the requirement for coverage. But he did not say his employees were members of the clergy.

His court appearance came eight days after he was suffered a tendon injury in an off-duty basketball game pitting Republicans against Democrats. He maintains the injury was in the course of his employment as a lawmaker because the event was sanctioned and promoted by the state Legislature.

His claim was denied, and he has appealed to a state hearing officer. A hearing is set for Aug. 14 in Carson City.

The two-term state senator was hauled into court by the workers compensation fraud unit of the state Attorney General's Office that alleged he did not buy a policy to cover his workers at his child care business from Aug. 28 to March 9, when he was caught.

The investigation was launched after state investigator Ralph Gilbert received a telephone tip from an anonymous female caller on March 8. He obtained a policy starting March 9.

The investigation showed one employee Mildred Bohlmann was injured on the job at the end of February. She hurt her wrist while trying to secure a pantry shelf as it fell.

Bohlmann had $430 in medical bills and learned then there was no on-the-job insurance coverage. Washington agreed to pay either her medical bills or her wages lost while she was away from the job. He declined to pay both. Bohlmann took her paycheck. Industrial insurance covers both time off and lost pay. Bohlmann subsequently quit the child care service where she was paid $7 an hour.

Chief Deputy Attorney General Kevin Higgins, in charge of the fraud unit, recommended to the justice court that Washington be fined $150 plus pay $70 in court costs and reimburse the attorney general's office $250 to cover the cost of the investigation.

Higgins also recommended Bohlmann be reimbursed for her medical expenses. But the justice of the peace decided against that and levied a smaller fine and did not reimburse the attorney general's office for its costs.

In the case of Washington's injury, he says he ran up almost $10,000 in medical bills. Employers Insurance Co., of Nevada, that writes the industrial insurance coverage for the state, denied the claim. The company said Washington never established the claim arose out of the course of his employment.

Employers Insurance said the Legislature confirmed Washington was not being paid for the game, and he did not qualify for coverage.