Updated Nov 7, 2009 - 9:12 pm

Man charged with workers comp fraud

Comments   |   Print this   |   E-mail this   |  

Christopher Briejer was arraigned in Pierce County Superior Court on Thursday. Prosecutors say he misrepresented claims to the state Department of Labor and Industries over four years.

The state says Briejer received $258,995 for time-loss compensation, $75,295 in medical services, and $31,651 for vocational retraining.

But Briejer tells The News Tribune that the claims by the state are wrong. A retired carpenter, Briejer says he has a permanent back injury.

He says he tries to stay in shape and last climbed Mount Rainier in 2008 saying, "it doesn't take a back to climb a mountain, it takes legs."

© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

• Add A Comment
  
  
  0
  0
• cobain501 wrote...

  Don O'Neill

  Does it take a back to climb Rainier or just legs?

  November 7, 2009 10:18 pm

  121668

  0

  0 Report this as abuse
• slaggg wrote...

  $360k is a lot of green for an injury

  If he stole the money, he should go to jail. But is anyone else shocked by these numbers? At what point did we get to a place where if you get a back industry, then the government (meaning all of us) give you $360,000. I could imagine you get some money to tide you over until you find a new job that doesn't need your back (there are many of them). But to get $360k? Out of control.

  November 8, 2009 10:17 am

  121728

  0

  0 Report this as abuse
• Randy F. wrote...

  A root cause why businesses relocate.....

  This is precisely one of the reasons that Washington State will lose the business giant Boeing, that provides jobs to tens of thousands of people, and millions in tax revenue. As a Safety Professional of over 22 years, and working here in Washington the past 5, I have never seen a more liberal and lucrative (for the worker) Workers' Compensation program in any other state. The monopolistic nature of the program does not allow for any type of cost controls that are normally provided by an open market system that provides competative services. Employees don't even have to report to the employer when they are injured, and Dr's are well versed on how to take advantage of guaranteed payout for alleged work related injuries. The whole program is a scam, and needs certain reform. Any labor intensive employer should be very leary of the Washington System, and those that are already here (such as Boeing) will be looking to relocate to a more friendly and less costly business environment in some other state.

  November 9, 2009 8:00 am

  121828

  0

  0 Report this as abuse
• 14751

  Report this as abuse

• < prev
• 1
• next >

• Baby for sale on Craigslist
• Judge: July 4 fireworks don't need review
• King County swine flu cases hit peak
• Washington to skip first round of Race to the Top
• Parents buy ticket home for Amanda Knox
• Police name suspect in Olympia homicide
• 31-year term for stabbing on I-5 in Seattle
• Boeing breaks ground on SC plant
• Boeing plant death ruled a suicide
• DOT worker killed by falling tree