L.A. Social Workers File More Than a Million
Dollars' Worth of Vehicle Damage Claims. In the past two years, social workers in the Los Angeles County
Department of Children and Family Services have filed $1.1 million in vehicle
damage claims, according to an audit released August 20 by Wendy Watanabe,
acting county auditor-controller.
From July 2005 to
November 2007, of the $1.1 million paid by the department, the audit found:
·
The
repair estimate for one claim exceeded $10,000 and the vehicle was considered
"totaled," since the repair estimate exceeded the vehicle's fair
market value. However, the pictures submitted to HMS showed only
"minor" bumper damage and deployed air bags. The police report also
called the damage "minor," and the employee's accident description
confirmed that the employee was involved in a minor "fender bender,"
traveling at approximately 10 to 15 miles per hour.
·
One
worker had two claims totaling $5,800, but the employee's timecard indicated
that the employee was not at work on the days of the accidents. In both
instances, the employee submitted a mileage claim and a field itinerary for the
day of the accident.
·
Claims
for some windshield damage appeared excessive. The agency paid an average of $950
each for six windshield claims reviewed by the auditor, while the estimates
obtained from 10 vendors averaged $265 for window repairs. More than 120 DCFS
employees filed at least 140 windshield damage claims between July 2005 and
November 2007.
·
Of the
690 claims filed, 360 were for single vehicle accidents, based on an employee's
statement that the accident was work-related, without any other verification.
In addition, 80 employees filed approximately 170 claims, with one filing four
claims in one year.
(Source: Report of
Los Angeles County Auditor Controller, "Department of Children and Family
Services: Review of Employee Damage Claim Reimbursements.")
Cal-Taxletter August 29, 2008
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