Legislator dropping basketball injury claim

Thursday, Aug. 23, 2001 | 10:37 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- State Sen. Maurice Washington says he's giving up his battle to have the workers compensation system pay an estimated $10,000 in medical bills for a leg injury he sustained while playing in a charity basketball game.

Jim Tatro, a hearing officer for the state Department of Administration, Wednesday denied Washington's claim that he's entitled to industrial insurance coverage for treatment of his right Achilles tendon, ruptured while grabbing a rebound in a game pitting the Democrats against the Republicans.

Washington, R-Sparks, said he was disappointed but added, "We will live with this."

He says he has personal catastrophic insurance coverage but it won't pick up the tab for his basketball injury.

Washington could have carried his case to a state appeals officer.

In the ruling, Tatro said Washington failed to demonstrate his injury occurred in the "course and scope of his employment."

Washington claimed the game was sanctioned and promoted by the state Legislature for the benefit of the Foster Grandparents Program. He argued that his participation was part of his official duties.

Tatro said Washington's "elective participation in a charity event to benefit an outside organization is a risk not arising out of and in the course of his employment as a state senator..."

The Legislative Counsel Bureau pays premiums to Employers Insurance Co. of Nevada for industrial insurance coverage for lawmakers who are injured on the job. Employers Insurance denied Washington's claim and he in turn asked for the hearing before the state.