Crystal Window & Door Systems PA LLC cited for 8 violations at its Dalton, Pennsylvania, facility and fined $75K for not correcting safety hazards following worker's finger amputation

Nov. 22, 2016

OSHA fines window manufacturer nearly $75K for not correcting
safety hazards following worker's finger amputation
Crystal Window & Doors cited for 8 violations at its Dalton, Pennsylvania, facility

Employer name:

Crystal Window & Door Systems PA LLC

Inspection site:

204 Franklin Valley Road

Dalton, Pennsylvania

Citations issued: On Nov. 14, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations for eight serious and one other-than-serious safety violations. 

Inspection findings: An inspection began on May 16, 2016, after a complaint alleging an amputation injury in January 2016 at the window manufacturer's Dalton facility was not reported to OSHA. It was also conducted as part of OSHA's national emphasis program focused on amputations.
Inspectors cited the company for serious violations involving:

• No established energy control program.
• Powered industrial trucks operated by employees without proper training.
• Unguarded machinery.
• A mechanical power press operated without a single-stroke mechanism, which prevents worker exposure to amputation hazards and other injuries.
• Mechanical power presses not periodically and regularly inspected and tested.
• Damaged electrical equipment.

The other-than-serious violation was due to the lack of a written hazard communication program.

Quote: "In January 2016, an employee of this company suffered a finger amputation on his first day of work. Since then, Crystal Window & Door Systems has not taken the necessary actions to correct the safety hazards that caused the amputation," said Mark Stelmack, director of OSHA's Wilkes-Barre Area Office. "When employers fail to provide a safe workplace, we will hold them legally accountable."
Proposed penalties: $74,826
The citations can be viewed at: https://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/CrystalWindowsandDoors_1147868.pdf

Since 1990, Crystal Window & Doors has grown to be one of the nation's leading window manufacturers. Headquartered in Flushing, New York, the company and its subsidiaries have manufacturing space at four plants in New York, Chicago, St. Louis and Riverside, California. Crystal employs over 400 people at its main factory, regional branches, subsidiaries and affiliate firms. Crystal branch offices are located in Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio and Missouri. Its products are distributed in more than 35 states.

The employer has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

To ask questions; obtain compliance assistance; file a complaint; or report amputations, eye loss, workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Wilkes-Barre Office at 570- 826-6538.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

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More than 4,000 fires occur annually on Thanksgiving as celebrants deep-fry turkeys, boil potatoes, bake pies and more.

Cooking Injuries Peak During Thanksgiving Holiday
November 26, 2014


Thanksgiving Day has more than double the number of home cooking fires than an average day, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. More than 4,000 fires occur annually on Thanksgiving as celebrants deep-fry turkeys, boil potatoes, bake pies and more.

“Splashes, spills, slips, burns and cuts are just a few of the many cooking hazards that occur during the Thanksgiving meal preparation,” said Arthur Sanford, MD, burn surgeon at Loyola University Health System. “Adults doing the cooking are often injured but sadly children often also get into harm’s way.”


Deep-frying turkeys causes an estimated $15 million in U.S. property damages, says Arthur Sanford, MD, burn surgeon at Loyola University Medical Center.

The trend of deep-frying the turkey has spiked a rise in cooking injuries. In the United States, more than 141 serious fires and hot-oil burns have been reported from turkey fryers over the last decade, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

“I have actually cared for a patient who tried to deep fry the turkey indoors, which absolutely should not be done in any circumstances,” says Sanford. “And I cannot stress enough that the turkey must be moisture –free. A frozen turkey in hot oil is a recipe for tragedy.”

Serafino Alfe of suburban Chicago knows how dangerous it can be. He was deep-frying turkeys for an annual fundraiser dinner a few years ago and ended up at the Loyola Burn Center with third-degree burns—the worst—on his leg.

“I tripped and fell right into the deep fryer,” he said. “Thirty quarts of hot oil poured over my leg and I basically fried myself.”

Alfe said he has used a deep fryer for many years and is always careful. “We put the deep fryers on cardboard and I caught my shoe on the edge and just lost my balance,” said Alfe, who underwent surgery at Loyola on his injured leg the day before Thanksgiving in 2011. “We were using the older fryers that do not have a secure lid and the gallons of hot oil just splattered out everywhere.”

In addition to the pain of these types of injuries, an estimated $15 million in U.S. property damage is caused by deep-fryer fires.

“Thanksgiving for many means extra people in the kitchen, close proximity to fire and hot surfaces, added stress to cook many dishes on a tight schedule, the manipulation of a large, heavy turkey and the use of sharp knives,” said Sanford, who also is an associate professor at Stritch School of Medicine. “It is easy to get distracted and injuries can occur in a flash.” Sanford also warns against drinking alcohol while cooking. “Intoxication and cooking injuries to adults are terrible but too often children become the victims and that is truly tragic,” he said.

“Too many people spend Thanksgiving in the burn center or the emergency department when they should be home with their loved ones,” Sanford said.

Loyola’s Burn Center is one of the busiest in the Midwest, treating nearly more than 600 patients annually in the hospital and another 3,500 patients each year in its clinic.



Source: Loyola University Health System
========= Miami-Dade Fire Rescue demonstrates dangers of frying turkey this Thanksgiving





DORAL, FLA. (WSVN) - Fire crews in South Florida are urging those planning to deep fry their turkey this Thanksgiving to be cautious.

With Thanksgiving this Thursday, many have deep fried turkey on their holiday menu, and fire rescue officials warned if the turkey is not properly prepared, dipping it into the deep fryer can cause an explosion.

Firefighters see almost double the normal number of cooking fires on Thanksgiving. “We always see examples of what you should do,” said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue firefighter Maggie Castro. “We’re here to show you what you shouldn’t do.”

During the cooking process, having mats around the kitchen could be a tripping hazard, as well. “You have a lot of friends and family over,” said Castro. “A lot of people who aren’t familiar with your household. Kids running around, they get excited. It just takes one split second for somebody to get hurt.”

Castro said keeping children away from hot stoves with a taped off area is one way to prevent accidents as well as keeping sharp objects from the edge of the counter. “The best way to keep pots and pans is with the handles pointed in,” said Castro.

Turkey fryers reportedly cause 1,000 injuries per year. Those injuries can amount to almost $15 million in property damages and medical bills. Experts suggest to test equipment and make certain it is working properly.

“He is wearing safety glasses,” said Castro as another fire rescue official demonstrated the proper use for turkey fryers. “He is wearing oven mits. Nice and easy, you wanna make sure you don’t drop it into the oil. Put it in slowly.”

Make sure pets are out of the area, as well, as they can cause someone to trip and fall.

Martha Bell, 70, has swindled an 89-year-old man out of $322,000 by falsely telling him he could invest in Medicare “bed licenses” that she allegedly claimed to still control.

Woman Convicted in $7M Pennsylvania Insurance Fraud Scheme Charged Anew
By Joe Mandak | November 21, 2016



A woman who spent more than seven years in prison for a $7 million insurance fraud and the unrelated death of a patient at her now-defunct Pennsylvania nursing home is in trouble with the law again.

This time, the Allegheny County district attorney’s office says Martha Bell, 70, has swindled an 89-year-old man out of $322,000 by falsely telling him he could invest in Medicare “bed licenses” that she allegedly claimed to still control.

A criminal complaint Thursday alleges Bell spent the money at The Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh and The Meadows Racetrack & Casino south of the city, on furniture, purchases from Victoria’s Secret, restitution payments from her previous court cases and tax bills.

The West Mifflin woman’s attorney, James Paulick, didn’t immediately return a call for comment after Bell surrendered. She’s free on bond pending a preliminary hearing Dec. 1.

District attorney’s Detective Jackelyn Weibel alleged Bell contacted the man, whom she knew through a mutual friend, shortly after she was released from prison in early 2013.

Bell allegedly told the man she needed money to place liens against five nursing homes and another property she once controlled before her incarceration. The man told investigators Bell’s claims of how much money she needed kept increasing and she eventually told him if he loaned her money, she’d make him half owner of $3 million worth of Medicare “bed licenses” she claimed to still control.

Investigators determined that Bell no longer controls the licenses – they’re defunct, along with her former nursing home – and that the investment story was a ruse. The man allegedly wrote 33 checks totaling $332,000 to Bell.

Bell spent more than two years in state prison for the October 2001 death of an 88-year-old woman who wandered outside the now-shuttered Ronald Reagan Atrium I Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Robinson Township. That woman, Mabel Taylor, died after she was locked outside for hours on a 40-degree night.

The death investigation led regulators to scrutinize the home and its parent company, the Alzheimer’s Disease Alliance of Western Pennsylvania, and led to federal Medicare and Medicaid fraud charges, which cost Bell an additional five more years in federal prison for collecting insurance money for services not rendered.

Bell was also convicted in 2008 in state court of stealing $51,500 in payroll money from the same nursing home, but her six- to 12-month jail sentence was imposed concurrently to the others so didn’t extend her incarceration.

At one point, while free on bond during the federal prosecution, Bell received permission from a judge to visit an Atlantic City casino for what her attorney called “rest and relaxation” over the objection of federal prosecutors.

=====



'I've been a political prisoner': Woman denies scamming elderly man
Updated: 5:36 PM EST Nov 16, 2016

At 70 years old, Martha Bell has been out of prison for three years, but police say it took her no time to commit her next crime, and they say it's connected to the case that put her away.


Nearly 10 years ago, Bell was convicted for her role in the death of 88-year-old Mabel Taylor. Taylor was a patient at the Atrium Nursing and Rehabilitation Center,in Robinson, when she wandered outside into a courtyard on a cold night and died. Police said Bell and others tried to cover it up, putting Taylor in bed and claiming she died there.

Bell went to prison and was released in 2013, but was on probation when police say she committed her latest crime. And according to court papers, the victim again is elderly.

"I have been innocent of all charges, including the charges that I was incarcerated for," Bell said, from her West Mifflin home. "I've been apolitical prisoner."

Bell said she had no idea police filed the recent charges, until Pittsburgh's Action News 4 came to her door.

According to court papers, investigators have been to her home to ask about claims that she conned an 89-year-old man out out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Police said that almost immediately after Bell's release from prison in the previous case, she convinced the elderly man to write her 33 checks, totaling $322,300. The complaint reads that Bell claimed she had bed licenses to sell,from her time at the Atrium, and if the elderly man gave her a loan, she would share half of the $3 million she'd make on the sale. Instead, court papers say she spent that money at casinos. Bell denies it all.

Bell faces four felonies, including theft by unlawful taking and deceptive or fraudulent business practices. She has not yet been taken into custody.

INSURANCE FRAUD: 50 individuals were criminally charged following investigations by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General's Insurance Fraud Section.

Attorney General Beemer announces 50 charged with insurance fraud 11/21/2016



HARRISBURG — Attorney General Bruce R. Beemer today announced the filing of criminal charges against 50 individuals following investigations by the Office of Attorney General's Insurance Fraud Section.

The charges are part of a November sweep conducted by the Insurance Fraud Section, which is the largest law enforcement entity in Pennsylvania with specific authority to investigate and prosecute cases of insurance fraud. The total potential fraud involved in these cases is more than $1.1 million.

"Insurance fraud results in billions of dollars of losses each year," Attorney General Beemer said. "This type of fraud also leads to higher insurance rates for everyone, which is why it is important for our office to be diligent in investigating and prosecuting these crimes."

The charges announced today involve some of the most common types of insurance fraud. Below is a list of the defendants, the charges filed against them and a description of their alleged criminal acts. The cases are all pending.

Eastern Region

David G. Miller III, 32, of the 6200 block of Mount Pleasant Road, Honey Brook, is charged with one count each of insurance fraud and criminal attempt to commit theft by deception. According to a criminal complaint filed in support of the charges, Miller's automobile was uninsured when he was involved in an accident on June 6. After the accident, he called Allstate Insurance Company to obtain coverage. Later, he provided a recorded statement to the insurance company in which he allegedly claimed the accident had occurred after he obtained the insurance policy.

Jennifer Carter, 30, of the 5300 block of Baynton St., Philadelphia, is charged with one count each of insurance fraud, theft by deception and criminal use of a communication facility. An investigation confirmed that Carter in December 2015 upgraded her automobile insurance policy with Progressive Insurance Company. Roughly 12 hours after the upgrade, which added collision and comprehensive coverage, Carter filed a claim for damage to her sports utility vehicle that she alleged was the result of an accident. Further investigation confirmed that the damage to Carter's vehicle occurred before she called to upgrade her policy. Documents confirmed her vehicle was towed from the scene long before she claimed the accident had occurred, investigators stated in a criminal complaint.

Shawn M. Robinson, 38, of the 2200 block of Lambert St., Philadelphia, is charged with one count each of insurance fraud, criminal attempt to commit theft by deception, criminal use of a communication facility and a separate count of insurance fraud. Robinson in January 2013 called his automobile insurance carrier, Safe Auto Insurance, to add comprehensive and collision coverage to his policy. Roughly three days after adding the additional coverage, Robinson allegedly called his insurance company to report that an unknown vehicle had hit his parked car and caused damage. Further investigation confirmed that an individual had broken into Robinson's vehicle and damaged it the day before Robinson added the additional coverage, meaning Robinson provided a false statement to his insurance carrier, investigators allege.

Samuel Mansary, 34, of the 200 block of Beverly Blvd., Upper Darby, is charged with one count each of insurance fraud, theft by deception and criminal use of a communication facility. An investigation showed that Mansary was listed as the second driver of a vehicle that was rented in September 2015 from Hertz Rental Car Company. After the vehicle was involved in an accident in Abington Township, Mansary called Geico Insurance Company, claiming that he was the driver of the vehicle at the time the accident occurred. Geico later issued a payment of more than $10,000 for repairs to the rental car. It was later determined that Mansary was not the driver of the vehicle when the accident occurred, investigators alleged in a criminal complaint. It was Mansary's cousin, an unauthorized driver of the rental car, who was reportedly driving at the time of the accident.

Yvette G. Jones, 27, of the 4500 block of N. 18th St., Philadelphia, and Sheldon McCall-Jones, 27, of the 1900 block of N. 71st Ave., Philadelphia, are both charged with one count each of insurance fraud, attempted theft by deception and criminal conspiracy. An investigation confirmed that McCall-Jones in September 2015 was involved in an automobile accident with a Philadelphia police vehicle. During an initial recorded statement that he provided to his insurance carrier, Access Insurance Company, McCall-Jones stated that he was alone in the vehicle at the time of the accident. However, during a second interview, he claimed that Yvette Jones, his aunt, was a passenger in the vehicle at the time of the accident. Yvette Jones through her attorney sent a letter to the insurance company claiming she had suffered injuries in the accident. The investigation revealed that the false report was made in an effort to obtain money from the insurance company, investigators allege.

Sunita Suresh, 45, of the 700 block of W. Rolling Road, Springfield, is charged with three counts of worker's compensation fraud and one count each of theft by deception and criminal use of a communication facility. According to a criminal complaint filed in support of the charges, Suresh received more than $13,000 in worker's compensation benefits. She claimed that she suffered a concussion in August 2015 when a heater light and metal electric box fell on her head while she was working at Riddle Hospital in Media, Delaware County. The total disability worker's compensation benefits that Suresh received were based on her claim that she was unable to work at any job. However, the investigation revealed that Suresh worked full-time at Penn Presbyterian Hospital in Philadelphia during the time period when she was receiving disability benefits.

Theresa Bush, 56, of the 1600 block of W. York St., Philadelphia, is charged with one count each of insurance fraud, criminal attempt to commit theft by deception, criminal use of a communication facility and a separate count of insurance fraud. Bush in July 2014 was involved in an automobile accident in Philadelphia at a time when her vehicle was uninsured. After the accident occurred, Bush allegedly contacted Safe Auto Insurance to reinstate the insurance policy on her vehicle. She later provided a false statement in which she misstated the time of the accident in an effort to receive insurance benefits for a purported injury that she suffered, investigators stated in a criminal complaint.

Richard E. Williams Jr., 30, of the 900 block of Gilbert Road, Cheltenham, is charged with one count each of insurance fraud, criminal attempt to commit theft by deception, criminal use of a communication facility and a separate count of insurance fraud. Williams' car was damaged in April. He later changed his insurance deductible with Progressive Insurance from $1,000 to $500. After the change to his policy, Williams falsely reported that the damage to his vehicle occurred before the policy was changed, investigators allege.

Lachell D. Goines, 25, of the 7200 block of Glenthorne Road, Upper Darby, is charged with one count each of insurance fraud, criminal conspiracy to commit insurance fraud, criminal attempt to commit theft and criminal use of a communication facility. Goines' boyfriend was driving her vehicle alone when he was involved in an accident in November 2015. After the accident occurred, Goines falsely told her insurance carrier, Progressive Insurance, that she was driving her vehicle at the time the accident occurred, according to investigators. She is further accused of submitting a false claim for medical benefits and falsely stating that she was injured as the result of the accident, investigators stated in a criminal complaint.

John Ackley, 41, of Laurel Springs, N.J., is charged with three counts of worker's compensation fraud and one count of theft by deception. Ackley claimed that he was injured in September 2010 when he was working for a Philadelphia company. As a result of his alleged total disability, Ackley received payments of more than $70,000 in lost wages benefits and more than $80,000 in medical payments from the Pennsylvania State Workers Insurance Fund. An investigation determined that Ackley was in fact working other jobs during the time he received the disability benefits, according to investigators. He is also accused of providing false documentation to the State Workers Insurance Fund in which he claimed that he was unemployed during the time he was receiving the benefits. Ackley is a fugitive at this time.

Charles Adams, 42, and Donna L. Smith, 59, both of the 900 block of Madison St., Coatesville, are both charged with one count each of insurance fraud, criminal attempt to commit theft by deception and criminal conspiracy. Adams is also charged with an additional count of insurance fraud. According to investigators, Adams and Smith, his mother-in-law, both made misrepresentations to Safe Auto Insurance regarding the timing of an accident that occurred in December 2015. Smith was reportedly driving Adams' vehicle when she was involved in a multi-vehicle accident. Adams allegedly called Safe Auto Insurance after the accident occurred to obtain an insurance policy. Roughly three hours after obtaining the policy, Adams called to report the accident involving his mother-in-law, according to investigators. Both Adams and Smith allegedly provided statements to the insurance company that the accident occurred before the policy went into effect. However, an investigation that included interviews with the other drivers involved in the crash confirmed their statements were false.

Jano J. Thottumkal, 45, of the 2600 block of Virginia Drive, Jamison, is charged with one count each of insurance fraud, criminal use of a communication facility, unlawful use of a computer and criminal attempt to commit theft by deception, in addition to a separate count of insurance fraud. According to investigators, Thottumkal made false representations to Progressive Insurance. Thottumkal reportedly obtained an insurance policy from Progressive in August 2015. Roughly two weeks after obtaining the policy, Thottumkal called the insurance company to report that he had been involved in an accident the day before his call. An investigation confirmed the accident actually occurred before Thottumkal obtained the insurance policy through Progressive, according to investigators.

Nathaniel Shoatz, 30, currently incarcerated at SCI — Camp Hill, is charged with one count each of insurance fraud, criminal attempt to commit theft by deception, forgery and criminal conspiracy. According to investigators, Shoatz claimed that he lost property valued at more than $35,000 during a burglary at the Philadelphia apartment where he said he was living. He allegedly submitted fraudulent receipts to Travelers Insurance Company to support this claim, saying furs and clothing were among the items stolen.

Luigi Rodriguez, 24, of the 1600 block of E. Hunting Park Ave., Philadelphia, is charged with one count each of insurance fraud, criminal attempt to commit theft by deception and criminal use of a communication facility, in addition to a separate count of insurance fraud. Rodriguez in January got into an automobile accident after his vehicle's insurance policy expired due to lack of payment. An investigation confirmed that Rodriguez called Progressive Insurance to reinstate the policy. At the time the policy was reinstated, Rodriguez said that he had not been involved in any recent accidents, according to investigators. The day after the policy was reinstated, Rodriguez reportedly called Progressive again to report that he had been in an accident. The investigation confirmed that the reported accident had actually occurred before Rodriguez called to reinstate his policy, investigators stated in a criminal complaint.

Jarreau H. Brown, 29, of Wilmington, Del., is charged with one count each of insurance fraud, criminal attempt to commit theft by deception and criminal use of a communication facility. Brown's vehicle caught fire in November 2015 during a time when the vehicle was uninsured. After the fire, Brown reportedly obtained an insurance policy through Progressive Insurance. A day later, he allegedly submitted a false claim in which he made the misrepresentation that the fire had occurred before he obtained the insurance policy.

Lisa Somma, 40, of the 200 block of East Township Line Road, Havertown, is charged with one count each of insurance fraud, criminal attempt to commit theft by deception and criminal use of a communication facility. According to a criminal complaint, Somma in September 2015 obtained an automobile insurance policy through Safe Auto Insurance. Four days after obtaining the policy, she filed a claim, stating she had been involved in a two-vehicle accident. An investigation confirmed the accident had in fact occurred before Somma obtained the insurance policy, according to investigators.

Raymond Barbosa, 50, of the 200 block of W. Lehigh St., Bethlehem, and Stacey A. McClure, 46, of the 1400 block of High St., Bethlehem, are both charged with one count each of insurance fraud, criminal conspiracy, criminal attempt to commit theft by deception and criminal use of a communication facility. Barbosa in March 2015 was involved in a single car accident when he did not have automobile insurance. According to investigators, Barbosa obtained an insurance policy after the accident. Four days after obtaining the policy with Progressive Insurance, investigators said Barbosa allegedly submitted a claim in which he falsely reported that the accident had occurred after the policy went into effect. Meanwhile, McClure allegedly provided a false statement to Progressive in which she corroborated Barbosa's false account of the accident. In both of their statements, Barbosa and McClure allegedly misled the insurance company when they said they did not know each other prior to the accident.

Maya Bennett, 29, of the 1000 block of Cambridge St., Philadelphia, is charged with one count each of insurance fraud, theft by deception, criminal use of a communication facility and criminal attempt to commit theft by deception. According to investigators, Bennett was part of a group that shoplifted items valued at more than $3,000 from stores in Montgomery County. As she fled in a vehicle from the scene where the shoplifting occurred, Bennett drove at a high rate of speed, striking two other cars and causing her own vehicle to flip over. Bennett, who pleaded guilty to various crimes in connection with the shoplifting and the accident she caused, pursued an automobile insurance claim through her policy with Erie Insurance Company. Investigators alleged that she made a series of false statements to the insurance company regarding the circumstances of the accident she was involved in. For example, she is accused of falsely denying that she was the driver of the car. She allegedly did this in an effort to obtain insurance benefits to which she was not entitled.

Antwanette C. Patterson, 31, of the 100 block of N. Bethlehem Pike, Ambler, is charged with one count each of insurance fraud, criminal use of a communication facility and criminal attempt to commit theft by deception, in addition to a separate count of insurance fraud. According to investigators, Patterson in a claim to Progressive Specialty Insurance Company stated that her vehicle was damaged when it struck a deer. However, an investigation confirmed that the accident had actually occurred a day prior to the inception of her policy with Progressive, meaning her claim was allegedly fraudulent.

Kellie Jemison, 38, of the 1100 block of E. Lincoln Hwy., Coatesville, is charged with one count each of insurance fraud, criminal use of a communication facility and criminal attempt to commit theft by deception, in addition to one separate count of insurance fraud. According to investigators, Jemison in February filed a claim through Safe Auto Insurance Company, her automobile insurance carrier, related to an accident that occurred the previous June. Further investigation confirmed that the accident occurred before Jemison's policy took effect. Jemison is accused of providing false information in the fraudulent claim that she made to her insurance company.

Anthony Reid, 33, of the 1900 block of Carpenter St., Philadelphia, is charged with one count each of insurance fraud, criminal attempt to commit theft by deception and criminal use of a communication facility. According to investigators, Reid was involved in an automobile accident in April when his vehicle was uninsured. He is accused of providing a false statement to his prior insurance carrier, Safe Auto Insurance, regarding the date the accident occurred. It is alleged that he provided this information in an attempt to have the insurance company pay for damages caused by the accident.

Western Region

Virginia Baustert, 41, of the 100 block of Hilltop Drive, Apollo, is charged with one count each of insurance fraud, theft by deception and violation of the controlled substance, drug, device and cosmetic act. Investigators allege that Baustert gave false, incomplete and misleading information to medical providers in several western Pennsylvania counties, causing them to submit claims to Highmark Insurance for medical services that Baustert did not need. She is accused of presenting prescriptions to various pharmacies for Oxycodone and OxyContin, knowing that the prescriptions were not properly issued. The amount of the theft of medical services that were not necessary is approximately $160,000, according to investigators.

Caryn Ratti, 45, of the 200 block of Greenwood Drive, New Brighton, is charged with one count each of insurance fraud and criminal attempt to commit theft by deception. On Jan. 25, Ratti filed a claim with Motorist Insurance claiming that she was injured when she fell in Beaver Supermarket. She submitted medical bills totaling approximately $3,500 as part of her claim and requested that the payment be issued to her directly. Ratti is accused of staging the fall. Furthermore, Ratti’s medical bills for the hospital visit were paid for by Medicaid, according to investigators.

Christine Woodring, 25, of the 9900 block of Broadway St., North Huntingdon, and Richard H. Nelson, 35, of the 200 block of Laurel Ave., Pittsburgh, are charged with one count each of theft by deception, forgery, criminal conspiracy, insurance fraud and identity theft. Woodring and Nelson, acting as licensed insurance agents, allegedly created a scheme to profit from the submission of fraudulent insurance policy applications. Nelson is accused of giving Woodring names and other personal information from policies he had previously written. Woodring and Nelson are accused of changing the addresses and bank account information on those accounts and forging the signatures based on previous applications. The two allegedly opened bank accounts to pay the premiums. Between Jan. 20, 2014 and Jan. 5, 2015, Nelson and Woodring obtained more than $70,000 in fraudulent commissions related to more than 90 policies.

Christopher Bain, 22, of the 600 block of East 25th St., Erie, is charged with one count of insurance fraud. Bain claimed that the driver of an Erie Motor Transit Authority bus closed the bus doors on him, causing injury. Bain submitted an insurance claim in which he said he sought medical treatment for a kidney injury. According to investigators, video evidence and witness testimony confirmed that Bain was not struck by the door and was uninjured. Bain is currently a fugitive.

Karen Kletch, 33, of the first block of Seminole Ave., Washington, is charged with one count each of forgery, insurance fraud, identity theft, theft by deception and criminal attempt to commit theft by deception. Kletch, an insurance agent, is accused of using the personal information of her friends and family with altered addresses, bank information and forged signatures to inflate the number of new policy applications she opened. Between May 2013 and June 2013, Kletch received more than $5,900 in commissions and bonuses for 27 fraudulent policies, according to investigators.

Vanessa McWhorter, 47, of the 2000 block of Shadyside Drive, Hermitage, is charged with one count each of insurance fraud and criminal attempt to commit theft by deception. McWhorter in January purchased a new automobile insurance policy. Three days after obtaining the policy, she submitted a claim in which she said she struck a deer, causing damage to her vehicle. Further investigation confirmed the accident had actually occurred before McWhorter obtained the new policy, investigators stated in a criminal complaint.

Todd Curtin, 40, of the 200 block of Adams Point Blvd., Mars, is charged with four counts of identity theft, three counts each of insurance fraud and criminal attempt to commit theft by deception and one count each of theft of services and theft by deception. Curtin is accused of assuming the identity of his brother in order to receive medical treatment while his brother was out of the country. It is alleged that Curtin received more than $7,000 in medical benefits using his brother's identity.

Isaac Mayo, 35, of the 200 block of N. Saint Marys St., Saint Marys, is charged with one count each of worker's compensation fraud and criminal attempt to commit theft by deception. According to a criminal complaint, Mayo, a truck driver, attempted to defraud ACE-Indemnity Insurance Company of North America by submitting a claim for injuries that he suffered while working in May 2015. However, an investigation showed that no injury occurred at the time Mayo said it did.

Robert Welliver, 47, of the 1600 block of Relative Drive, Verona, is charged with two counts of worker’s compensation fraud and one count of theft by deception. According to a criminal complaint, Welliver received total disability benefits after suffering an injury that he alleged occurred while he was working for a construction company. An investigation revealed that Welliver was working for another construction and remodeling company during the time he was receiving the disability benefits. The fraud resulted in him being paid more than $31,000 for benefits to which he was not entitled.

Anne M. Leonard, 46, of the 100 block of Bell Ave., Altoona, is charged with one count each of insurance fraud and criminal attempt to commit theft by deception. Leonard is accused of reporting to her insurance company that a tractor that she owned was stolen in July 2015. An investigation revealed that the tractor that was reported stolen was actually in her brother’s possession. A tractor that was in fact stolen from Leonard's possession was valued at approximately $500 — not the $2,899 figure that Leonard falsely reported to her insurance company, according to investigators.

Faye Jenkins, 62, of the 100 block of Friendsville Road, Markleysburg, is charged with one count each of insurance fraud and criminal attempt to commit theft by deception. Jenkins in December 2015 obtained a new automobile insurance policy. She later filed a claim related to an accident that she said occurred on the same day that she obtained her new policy. An investigation determined that the accident actually occurred prior to Jenkins obtaining the policy, investigators stated in a criminal complaint.

Jenna Shelbon, 32, of the 4700 block of Steinburg Road, West Springfield, is charged with one count each of insurance fraud and criminal attempt to commit theft by deception. Shelbon was involved in an automobile accident in January at a time prior to her obtaining an insurance policy for her vehicle through The General Insurance. She is accused of providing false information to authorities in which she claimed the accident occurred after she obtained the policy.

Kelly Rogala, 32, of the 800 block of Rumsey Ave., Erie, is charged with one count each of insurance fraud and theft by deception. Between January 2015 and August 2015, Rogala allegedly submitted numerous insurance claims for medical treatments that she alleged she and her son received. The claims resulted in the payment of more than $17,000. However, an investigation determined that the treatments were never provided, investigators alleged in a criminal complaint.

Dianne Donatelli, 54, of the 500 block of Cedarwood Drive, Pittsburgh, is charged with three counts of theft by deception, two counts of insurance fraud and one count of unlawful use of a computer. Donatelli, who was employed by a chiropractic office, is accused of submitting multiple bills to Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield Insurance for patients whose bills had already been paid by another insurance company. She is also accused of submitting bills to the insurance company for services that were never rendered. Highmark paid more than $389,000 as a result of the alleged fraud.

Nancy Sanchez, 31, and Craig Dowling, 34, both of the 1000 block of Buchannon Road, Pittsburgh, are both charged with two counts each of insurance fraud and one count of criminal attempt to commit theft by deception. Sanchez in November 2015 obtained an automobile policy for her vehicle. The following day, she allegedly filed an online insurance claim that indicated she was operating her own vehicle when she was involved in an accident. During the claims process, Dowling provided a statement corroborating Sanchez’s claim. However, an investigation revealed that the accident actually involved Dowling's work vehicle, which was uninsured.

Central Region

Martina Roberts, 43, of Gaithersburg, Md., is charged with one count each of insurance fraud and criminal attempt to commit theft by deception. Roberts is accused of providing false information to Geico Insurance Company in which she misrepresented the date that a motor vehicle accident occurred. The attempted fraud involved more than $15,000, according to investigators.

Tanya Fegan, 51, of the 700 block of Pikestown Road, Harrisburg, is charged with one count each of insurance fraud and theft by deception. Fegan, a former insurance agent, is accused of changing her personal automobile insurance policy through Travelers Insurance after an accident occurred. This was allegedly done in an effort to retroactively lower her deductible and add other coverage that benefited her following the accident.

Joel Frey, 37, of the 500 block of Pennsy Road, New Providence, is charged with one count each of insurance fraud and criminal attempt to commit theft by deception. Frey made a report to his homeowner's insurance carrier regarding an accidental fire in which a pole barn, shed and the contents of both structures were allegedly destroyed. An investigation showed that some lumber that was submitted as part of Frey’s complaint was for his business that he ran out of his home and was not covered under his homeowner’s policy. It is alleged that Frey submitted false information in an attempt to obtain claim proceeds to which he was not entitled.

Louise Robinson, 35, of the 2400 block of Noble St., West Lawn, is charged with one count each of insurance fraud and criminal attempt to commit theft by deception. Robinson in August 2014 purchased an automobile insurance policy. Hours after obtaining the policy, Robinson filed a claim stating that her vehicle was vandalized. An investigation showed that Robinson’s vehicle was actually vandalized prior to Robinson obtaining the policy.

Justin Gorham, 21, of the 2400 block of North 5th St., Harrisburg, is charged with one count each of insurance fraud and criminal attempt to commit theft by deception. Gorham in September 2015 obtained a new automobile insurance policy. Hours after obtaining the policy, Gorham filed a claim stating he damaged his vehicle when he hit his neighbor’s fence and his home. An investigation revealed that the accident actually occurred prior to Gorham purchasing the policy.

Ian Markey, unknown age and address, is charged with two counts of insurance fraud and one count of criminal attempt to commit theft by deception. Markey in August 2014 purchased an automobile insurance policy. Days after obtaining the policy, Markey filed a claim in which he said his vehicle was damaged when he struck three to four raccoons on his way to work. An investigation revealed that the accident occurred prior to Markey obtaining the policy. Markey is currently a fugitive.

Andrew Schneller, 48, of the 200 block of W. Race St., Fleetwood, is charged with one count each of insurance fraud, criminal attempt to commit theft by deception and forgery. Schneller is accused of submitting altered or forged hotel receipts for hotel room stays following a pipe bursting in his home. Receipts were provided to Schneller's insurance company showing stays in various hotels in the Berks County area. An investigation revealed that multiple receipts had been forged. In fact, some of the receipts were for a hotel that did not exist, according to investigators.

Waleska Olivero, 41, of the 100 block of W. Jackson St., York, and Kristi McElderry, 49, of the 100 block of N. Market St., Mount Joy, are both charged with two counts of insurance fraud and one count each of criminal attempt to commit theft by deception and criminal conspiracy to commit theft by deception. Olivero and McElderry are accused of misrepresenting the time and date of an automobile accident in an attempt to obtain proceeds they were not entitled to. McElderry filed an insurance claim that stated she was involved in an accident with Olivero on her way to work. Olivero confirmed the details of this claim. According to investigators, an investigation revealed the accident had actually taken place prior to McElderry obtaining the automobile policy.

# # #

In 1990, the state legislature made insurance fraud a serious crime in Pennsylvania, punishable by heavy fines and stiff prison sentences.

In 1994, legislation was enacted in Pennsylvania establishing the Insurance Fraud Prevention Authority (IFPA) and a Fraud Trust Fund. All insurance companies authorized to transact business in Pennsylvania pay an annual assessment into the fund. The funds provide financial support to the Office of Attorney General's Insurance Fraud Section and other law enforcement agencies to support insurance fraud investigations and prosecutions.

Private citizens can report allegations of insurance fraud using an online form or by calling the IFPA's hotline at 1-888-565-IFPA (4372).

Consumers with a complaint involving an insurance company that does not involve fraud should contact the Pennsylvania Insurance Department at 1-877-881-6388 or the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection at 1-800-441-2555.



(A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty.)

# # #



Andrew Schneller
Anne Leonard
Anthony Reid
Caryn Ratti
Charles Adams
Christine Woodring
David G. Miller III
Dianne Donatelli
Donna Smith
Faye Jenkins
Isaac Mayo
Jano J. Thottumkal
Jarreau Brown
Jenna Shelbon
Jennifer Carter
Joel Frey
Justin Gorham
Karen Kletch
Kelly Rogala
Kristi McElderry
Lachell Goines
Lisa Somma
Louise Robinson
Luigi Rodriguez
Samuel Mansary
Martina Roberts
Nathaniel Shoatz
Richard Nelson
Robert Welliver
Shawn Robinson
Sheldon McCall-Jones
Sunita Suresh
Tanya Fegan
Theresa Bush
Todd Curtain
Vanessa McWhorter
Virginia Baustert
Yvette Jones
Waleska Olivero

THE DEADLY U.S. ROADS: roughly 500 people will be killed and another 60,000 will be seriously injured in car crashes during the Thanksgiving holiday period

Based on past statistics, roughly 500 people will be killed and another 60,000 will be seriously injured in car crashes during the Thanksgiving holiday period, which begins at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 23 and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 27.

The four-day period falls near the end of what the safety council estimates has been a particularly deadly year on the roads. Preliminary NSC estimates indicate traffic deaths are up 10 percent through the first nine months of 2015 compared with the same time period in 2014.

"Each Thanksgiving, we begin another holiday season while remembering all we are grateful for," said Deborah A.P. Hersman, president and CEO of the NSC. "But do not let the frenetic pace of the season rush you on the roads. Be alert and drive defensively so you can celebrate at home, not sit in the emergency room."

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates 87 percent of vehicle occupants wear seat belts. The 13 percent of drivers and passengers who do not buckle up accounted for 44.7 percent of fatalities in 2013, according to NHTSA. The council estimates 164 lives may be saved this Thanksgiving holiday because of seat belts. NSC recommends buckling up every trip, every time – even when traveling a short distance.

Other tips to ensure a safer Thanksgiving holiday include:

• Designate an alcohol- and drug-free driver or arrange alternate transportation.
• Get plenty of sleep and take regular breaks to avoid fatigue.
• Never use a cell phone behind the wheel, even hands-free.
• Do not allow teens to drive with their friends; a single young passenger can increase a teen driver's fatal crash risk 44 percent.
• Learn about your vehicle's safety systems and how to use them; My Car Does What can help drivers understand the ins and outs of features such as adaptive cruise control, blind spot warning systems and backup cameras.

OSHA investigates after a 28-year-old employee of W.F. Hann & Sons was injured while installing sewer lines in an 8-foot trench in Seven Hills, Ohio

OSHA investigates trench collapse after 28-year-old worker becomes 13th worker injured while working underground in 2016
Amid alarming rise in excavation-related deaths, agency calls industry to action


SEVEN HILLS, Ohio – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Cleveland office has opened an investigation after learning a 28-year-old employee of W.F. Hann & Sons was injured while installing sewer lines in an 8-foot trench in Seven Hills on Nov. 19, 2016.

While working in the trench at approximately 1:30 p.m., the soil suddenly shifted, and the trench walls around him collapsed – burying him in an estimated 14,000 pounds of dirt. The force of the soil was so great that it shattered a piece of 4 x 8 inch thick strand board the company used for shoring. A co-worker dug him out of the trench quickly and saved the man’s life. The Seven Hills Fire Department responded to the 911 call and transported the employee to Metro Hospital. His condition is unknown.

This incident marks the 13th time in 2016 that a worker was injured in a trench collapse. In total, collapses have killed 23 workers since January.

In a related incident, OSHA reported that an agency inspector saw a worker in a 15-foot deep unprotected trench in Berea today and ensured he was removed from danger. The agency has opened an investigation of the man’s employer – Trax Construction Co. of Wickliffe – as a result.

“The employers of both of these men are just lucky that neither of these men were killed while working in a trench without adequate safety protections. Nationwide, trench deaths have more than doubled since 2015 – an alarming trend that must be halted,” said Howard Eberts, OSHA’s Area Director in Cleveland. “Excavating companies need to re-examine their safety procedures to ensure they are taking all available precautions – including installing trench boxes, shoring and other means to prevent unexpected shifts in the soil that can cause walls to collapse.”

OSHA has a national emphasis program on trenching and excavations. Trenching standards require protective systems on trenches deeper than 5 feet, and soil and other materials kept at least two feet from the edge of trench.

The agency last inspected Cleveland-based W.F. Hann & Sons in 1999. The company was issued three citations related to a lack of fall protection, training, and frequent inspections. Trax Construction Co. was last inspected in 2014 and was issued a citation related to lack of adequate cave-in protection.

Learn more about the OSHA inspection process here.

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA’s toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency’s Cleveland office at 216-447-4194.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.
OSHA News Release:
11/21/2016

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W.F. Hann & Sons

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HVAC Service, Heating Service & Air Conditioning Service in Cleveland, OH

The team from W.F. Hann & Sons provides a range of heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical services for home and business owners in Warrensville Heights, Cleveland and throughout Northeast Ohio. We strive to maintain a reputation of unmatched customer service and quality workmanship that began in 1907. Whether you need emergency repair, installation or annual maintenance, one call to W.F. Hann does it all! Contact us for service on: furnaces, air conditioners, boilers, water heaters, sump pumps, ductless HVAC systems and more!

What Sets Us Apart

• With over 100 years of service to homeowners and businesses throughout Northeast Ohio, we offer 24-hour emergency service, warranty service, trained and certified technicians, quality products and unbeatable customer satisfaction.
• W.F. Hann & Sons is a fully insured, licensed contractor registered in all the cities that we work. We adhere to all state and local codes. All equipment is installed and started up to meet the requirements set by each manufacturer.
• All W.F. Hann & Sons technicians are factory trained and certified and have been NATE (North American Technician Excellence) tested. This certification is widely accepted across HVAC industry as the standard.
• Our technicians wear clean company uniforms and are clearly identified with a photo ID badge. They are company employees…we know who we are sending to your home.
• We take special care to protect your home. Anyone working in your home will wear protective shoe covers; drop cloths are spread out in work areas; and all debris is removed at the end of the job or work day.
• We evaluate you specific needs and customize your system to provide the most value, comfort and efficiency. We provide a detailed proposal with up-front and clear pricing. No surprises.
• We’ll give you a scheduled installation date and complete the job in the allotted time frame. Our Quality Assurance Guarantee means that every job is inspected by a senior staff member to meet our high standards and ensure your 100% satisfaction.

School bus crash injures 10 students on snowy interstate 81 near Marathon, NY

Bus crash injures 10 students on snowy interstate 81 near Marathon, NY

Monday, November 21, 2016 08:36PM
MARATHON, N.Y. -- A school bus taking students from suburban Rochester on a trip to New York City has crashed and overturned along a snowy upstate highway, slightly injuring 10 students and the driver.

State police say the crash happened Monday morning when the driver swerved to avoid two other vehicles that veered out of control in front of him on southbound Interstate 81 in the Cortland County town of Marathon, 40 miles south of Syracuse.

A statement posted on the Pittsford Central School District's website says several buses with students on board were heading to the city as part of a business course.

District officials say the buses were carrying students from Pittsford Mendon and Pittsford Sutherland high schools.

A 24-year-old male driver has been arrested and charged following a school bus crash in Chattanooga, Tennessee, that killed at least six children.

Driver arrested; 6 students killed in Tennessee school bus crash

 Multiple deaths were reported in an elementary school bus crash in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Monday, Nov. 21, 2016.

Updated 2 hrs 26 mins ago
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- A 24-year-old man has been arrested and charged following a school bus crash in Chattanooga, Tennessee, that killed at least six children.

Johnthony Walker was arrested and charged with five counts of vehicular homicide, reckless endangerment and reckless driving, according to Chattanooga police Chief Fred Fletcher.

Fletcher said the crash was "every public safety professional's worst nightmare."

The bus was carrying 35 children from Woodmore Elementary, students in kindergarten through fifth grade, when it crashed about 3:30 p.m., turned on its side and wrapped around a tree.

Fletcher said police interviewed the bus driver to determine what happened and told reporters later that investigators were looking at speed "very, very strongly" as a factor. The bus was the only vehicle involved but the crash scene covers a significant area, he said.

The National Transportation Safety Board tweeted that a team would be heading to Chattanooga on Tuesday morning to investigate.

Twenty-three students were taken to hospitals, Fletcher said, but he did not have information about the extent of their injuries. Media reported it took about two hours to get the last children off the bus.

Television stations reported that people lined up to donate blood and some donors were asked to make appointments for Tuesday.

Kirk Kelly, interim superintendent for Hamilton County schools, said classes would be held on Tuesday, with counselors available for students and staff.

Hamilton County District Attorney Neal Pinkston told media outlets that five people died at the scene and one died at the hospital. Melydia Clewell, the district attorney's spokeswoman, confirmed the number.

Chattanooga police Assistant Chief Tracy Arnold said officials would not identify the students who died, or their ages, until parents were notified.

"Our hearts go out, as well as the hearts of all these people behind me, to the families, the neighborhood, the school, for all the people involved in this, we assure you we are doing everything we can," Fletcher said.

At the state Capitol in Nashville, Gov. Bill Haslam called the crash "a tragic event" and offered assistance.

"We're going to do everything we can to assist in any way," Haslam said. "It's a sad situation anytime there's a school bus with children involved, which there is in this case."

Construction worker fell 40 feet to his death from a malfunctioned forklift platform at the the under-construction Castle banquet hall in Pequannock, New Jersey

Worker, 21, dies after fall in Pequannock after improper use of the forklift
Michael Izzo , @MIzzoDR 2:39 p.m. EST November 21, 2016

A worker was fatally injured last week following a fall from a forklift at a Pequannock construction site, police said.

At about 1:27 p.m. Friday, officers responded Route 23 South at the site of the under-construction Castle banquet hall for a report of an injured worker, Capt. Christopher DePuyt said.

While officers were responding, dispatch was advised that medical assistance was not needed as coworkers were taking the injured man to Chilton Medical Center, DePuyt said.

The man, 21, from Belleville, was pronounced dead in the Chilton Emergency Room at 1:46 p.m., DePuyt said.

Back at The Castle, officers secured the accident site and contacted the state Occupational Safety and Health Administration, DePuyt said. The investigation was then turned over to OSHA.

A preliminary investigation indicated the 21-year-old victim was being lowered to the ground by a forklift at the time of the accident when the machine suffered a mechanical failure, causing the forklift attachment to detach from the rest of the unit, DePuyt said.

The 21-year-old – who was standing on a wooden pallet on the end of the forklift at the time – then fell 40 feet to the ground, suffering fatal injuries, DePuyt said.

The workers on site were transporting a ladder off the structure to the ground at the time of the accident and OSHA said that was not a proper use of the forklift.The worker was not identified by name Monday and OSHA’s investigation is ongoing.

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By Justin Zaremba | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Email the author
on November 21, 2016 at 10:23 AM, updated November 21, 2016 at 3:45 PM




PEQUANNOCK — A 21-year-old Belleville man died Friday after he fell from the end of a forklift at the construction site for The Castle banquet hall on Route 23, police said.

The worker was standing on a wooden pallet on the fork end of the forklift when an apparent mechanical failure occurred and the fork end detached, causing the man to plummet about 40 feet, Pequannock Capt. Christopher DePuyt said.

Township police were notified of the incident at about 1:27 p.m. and were told medical assistance wasn't needed because the worker was transported by co-workers to Chilton Medical Center, DePuyt said.

The man was pronounced dead at the hospital's emergency department at 1:46 p.m.

Falls are the leading cause of death in the construction industry, according to OSHA.

Workers were in the process of removing a ladder off of the structure to the ground when the mechanical failure occurred, DePuyt said.

DePuyt said the investigation has been turned over to the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA investigators, he said, indicated the way in which the forklift was used during this incident was improper.

The Castle is an 85,000-square-foot banquet hall currently under construction by Badanco Holding Company. Messages placed to Badanco Holding Company on Monday morning haven't yet been returned.