Latest news with #TotalTemporaryDisability
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Ex-OC cop caught drinking, dancing at Stagecoach while claiming disability charged with fraud
The Brief Nicole Brown, a former Westminster police officer, faces 15 felony charges for allegedly faking a head injury to steal over $600,000 in workers' compensation. She was reportedly seen dancing at a music festival, skiing, and running races while claiming complete disability. Her stepfather, an attorney, is also charged with two felonies for his alleged role in the scheme. ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. - A former Westminster police officer and her attorney stepfather have been charged with multiple felonies in connection with a fraudulent workers' compensation scheme totaling over $600,000. The former officer claimed complete disability due to a head injury but was seen participating in various activities, including attending Stagecoach, skiing, and running races, according to a statement from the Orange County District Attorney's Office. What we know Nicole Brown, 39, of Riverside, a former Westminster police officer, faces 15 felony charges, including nine counts of making a fraudulent statement to obtain compensation and six counts of making a fraudulent insurance benefit claim. She is also charged with a felony enhancement for committing an aggravated white-collar crime over $100,000. Her stepfather, Peter Gregory Schuman, 57, of Buena Park, a licensed attorney specializing in workers' compensation defense, has been charged with one felony count of making a fraudulent insurance benefit claim and one felony count of assisting, abetting, conspiring with, and soliciting a person in an unlawful act. The charges stem from claims Brown made regarding a head injury she allegedly sustained on March 21, 2022, while handcuffing a suspect. Despite being released back to work without restrictions by an emergency room doctor, Brown was diagnosed with severe concussion syndrome on March 30, 2022, and subsequently placed on Total Temporary Disability (TTD). Brown's alleged fraudulent claims cost the city of Westminster over $600,000. This amount included her full salary, which was tax-free, and her associated medical expenses. The backstory When police officers are injured on duty and unable to work, they may be entitled to Total Temporary Disability benefits. During the first year of temporary disability due to a work-related injury, officers receive their full, tax-free salary, which is paid by the employing city, county, or state agency. If the officer remains temporarily disabled after one year, they transition to regular workers' compensation TTD benefits, receiving two-thirds of their average weekly wage, subject to a statewide maximum. These benefits can last up to 104 weeks within a five-year period. Dig deeper While on TTD, Brown consistently complained of headaches, dizziness, sensitivity to light and noise, difficulty processing thoughts and words, and an inability to work on a computer or engage in any screen time. However, an investigation revealed significant discrepancies between her claimed disability and her actual activities. On April 29, 2023, Brown was seen by several individuals at the Stagecoach Music Festival, an event with over 75,000 attendees, loud music, bright lights, and temperatures exceeding 100 degrees. She was observed dancing and drinking. This behavior was reported to the Westminster Police Department, which then escalated the case to the Orange County District Attorney's Office for a workers' compensation fraud investigation. Three days after the festival, Brown attended an interactive process Zoom meeting to discuss potential duties she could perform as a police officer. During this meeting, Brown claimed she was unable to look at the screen and sat in a dark room. Her stepfather, Peter Schuman, attended the meeting and spoke on her behalf, stating she was unable to do paperwork and was uncertain if she could handle phone calls due to her inability to process words or thoughts. Following this meeting, Brown was admitted to an in-patient center for individuals with traumatic brain injuries. The investigation further uncovered that three days after her alleged injury, when she called out sick, Brown attended an AYSO soccer conference in San Diego, where she participated in multiple sessions involving PowerPoint presentations. While on disability, Brown also ran in two 5K races, went snowboarding and/or skiing in Big Bear and Mammoth, attended three additional AYSO soccer conferences, went to baseball games, played golf, visited Disneyland, and took online courses with a local university. What's next If convicted of a felony, Brown will forfeit any pension credits she accrued back to the date the felony was committed. She faces a maximum sentence of 22 years in state prison if convicted on all counts. Schuman faces a maximum sentence of eight years in state prison if convicted. As a California-licensed attorney, he may also face disciplinary action from the State Bar of California. The Source Information for this story is a press release published by the Orange County District Attorney's Office on May 202, 2025.
Miami Herald
20-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Cop stole $600K in disability as she ran 5Ks and skied, California officials say
A California police officer accused of running 5Ks and skiing while out on paid disability leave has been charged, prosecutors say. The former Westminster police officer, Nicole Brown, 39, of Riverside, was charged with 15 felonies stemming from the alleged workers' compensation fraud that totaled more than $600,000 in stolen benefits, the Orange County District Attorney's Office said in a May 20 news release. Her stepfather, Peter Gregory Schuman, 57, of Buena Park, was also charged with two felonies and accused of 'conspiring with his stepdaughter to orchestrate the fraudulent workers' compensation scheme,' prosecutors said. Brown's attorney, Brian Gurwitz, denied the charges in a May 20 email to McClatchy News, saying she's not guilty of 'what the prosecution has alleged.' 'She was seriously injured on duty and intends to fight these allegations,' Gurwitz said. Attorney information for Schuman was not immediately available. Work injury While Brown was working as an officer with Westminster Police on March 21, 2022, 'she suffered a minor abrasion to her forehead' as she tried to arrest a suspect, prosecutors said. Brown told her watch commander her injury left her with a headache and dizziness, according to prosecutors. When she was examined by an emergency room doctor that day, they 'released her back to work without restrictions,' prosecutors said. She called 'out sick for several days,' then March 30, 2022, she 'was diagnosed with severe concussion syndrome,' prosecutors said. The doctor who issued the diagnosis took her off work, and Brown was placed on Total Temporary Disability, according to prosecutors. Total Temporary Disability benefits Officers who cannot work after being injured on the job are entitled to 'Total Temporary Disability benefits under the workers' compensation system,' prosecutors said. Should an officer be put on temporary disability as a result of a work injury, 'the officer will receive their full salary, not just a percentage, for up to one year,' prosecutors said. During that first year, the officer's pay is covered 'by the city, county, or state agency that employs the officer,' prosecutors said. If the leave is extended longer than a year, benefit receivers get two-thirds their average weekly wage under regular workers' compensation TTD benefits, prosecutors said. Such benefits can last up to 104 weeks, according to prosecutors. Brown received more than $600,000 in Total Temporary Disability benefits from the city of Westminster, 'which included Brown's full salary – tax-free – and her medical expenses,' according to prosecutors. While she was out on leave, Brown consistently complained of 'headaches, dizziness, sensitivity to light and noise, problems processing thoughts and words, and an inability to work on the computer or do any screentime,' prosecutors said. Officer seen at music festival More than a year after her injury, Brown was seen by several people attending the Stagecoach Music Festival on April 29, 2023, prosecutors said. At the time, 'she was off work on total disability as she was dancing and drinking' at the festival, which had more than 75,000 attendees 'with loud music and bright lights everywhere and temperatures in excess of 100 degrees,' according to prosecutors. Three days later, Brown attended a virtual meeting over Zoom to discuss the potential 'duties she could perform as a police officer,' prosecutors said. Her stepfather 'attended the meeting and advocated for Brown,' prosecutors said. In the meeting, Brown said she could not 'look at the screen' as she sat in a dark room, prosecutors said. Schuman spoke on her behalf throughout the entirety of the meeting, stating 'she was unable to do paperwork, and was uncertain that she could do phone calls due to her inability to process words or thoughts,' according to prosecutors. Following the meeting, 'Brown was admitted to an in-patient center for individuals who have a traumatic brain injury,' prosecutors said. Workers' compensation fraud investigation The district attorney's office 'launched an investigation into potential workers' compensation fraud' in Brown's case after the Westminster Police Department got a report she attended the music festival, according to prosecutors Prosecutors said they learned Brown attended an American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) soccer conference in San Diego, 'three days after the injury' when she was out on sick time, prosecutors said. During the conference, prosecutors said 'she attended multiple sessions where PowerPoint presentations were utilized.' Then, while she was out on disability, Brown engaged in multiple athletic activities, including running two 5K races, 'snowboarding and/or skiing in Big Bear and Mammoth' and playing golf, prosecutors said. She also attended three AYSO soccer conferences, went to baseball games and took a trip to Disneyland, prosecutors said. Prosecutors said they also learned Brown 'took online courses with a local university.' Former officer charged Following the investigation, Brown was charged with 'nine felony counts of making a fraudulent statement to obtain compensation, six felony counts of making a fraudulent insurance benefit claim, and one felony enhancement of committing an aggravated white collar crime over $100,000,' according to prosecutors. Schuman, a licensed attorney practicing workers' compensation law, was charged 'with one felony count of making a fraudulent insurance benefit claim and one felony count of assisting, abetting, conspiring with and soliciting a person in unlawful act,' prosecutors said. If convicted as charged, Brown faces up to 22 years in prison, while her stepfather faces a maximum sentence of eight years in prison, according to prosecutors. Should Brown be convicted of a felony, she 'will forfeit any pension credits she accrued back to the date the felony was committed,' prosecutors said. Westminster is about a 30-mile drive southeast from Los Angeles.
