Posted on 10/21/2005 6:44:47 AM PDT by conservativegirl
A California state appeals court has ruled that undocumented workers hurt on the job are entitled to workers compensation benefits, despite their illegal status.
The ruling comes in a case involving Farmer Brothers, a Torrance-based coffee roaster, that had tried to deny benefits to an employee who was in the country illegally.
Farmer Brothers argued that federal immigration laws superseded the state's workers compensation system. The 2nd District Court of Appeal in Los Angeles disagreed and unanimously upheld the decision by the state Workers' Compensation Appeals Board, saying immigration status is "irrelevant to the issue of liability" when it comes to workers' compensation.
Rafael Ruiz, 35, filed a worker's compensation claim after he said he injured his shoulders, back, neck and hands by repeatedly lifting heavy sacks of coffee beans.
There was no immediate comment on the ruling from Farmer Brothers.
News10 contacted several Central Valley farmers for their opinion on the decision. They all agreed with the decision. "Personally, if the guy is working for you, he should be covered under your policy, no question about it," said Bill Salmon of Kings Crown Asparagus.
A group called "Friends of the Border Patrol" had a different opinion. The group put out a statement saying it was wrong to reward anyone for breaking the law."
California has an estimated 2.6 million illegal immigrants, according to the state Department of Finance.
This is justice. Hiring illegals creates the supply. Those emploters that knowingly hire them should pay through the nose.
Sorry. I searched but didn't find it.
ding...ding...ding...we have a winner !
A California state appeals court has ruled that undocumented workers hurt on the job are entitled to workers compensation benefits, despite their illegal status.
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ABSOLUTE PURE LIBERAL INSANITY. Our justice system is dead!!
Better the employer's worker's comp carrier pays than taxpayers.
Hey, if this company employs illegal aliens, why shouldn't they have to pay? Otherwise, you end up with a situation where they could hire illegal aliens, put them into hazardous conditions, and then cut them loose if they get injured? Nope, sorry; let the company pay these people. In fact, let them shoulder the whole burden, instead of the government sharing the cost as I believe they do with an American citizen injured on the job.
Good. Some Companies hire known illegals knowing that they won't have to pay for workers comp or unemployment insurance, and can cheat them in wages and commit other acts against them, all because the workers are afraid to go to the police.
Although rather than paying them workers comp, I'd like to give them a free ticket for a one-way trip back home, and pay for it from the fines we levy against the business that hired the illegal.
So Ahrnold attempts to reform workers compensation so the judges sabatage the reform.
Not dead but defintely in need of surgery.
If I have an unwanted guest running my lawn mower, I don't care if he is my daughter's boyfriend, he's not going to be paid by the family. PERIOD.
BUT WE HATE FAMILY AND LOVE PEDOPHILE UNWANTED GUESTS NOWADAYS IN US GOV. SCREW THE TAX PAYERS, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE TAX PAYERS FOR.
Exactly. Don't reward them by giving them a job.
The gall. They hired the illegal, they can fork over their share of comp.
I don't understand what part of illegal our courts fail to comprehend.==
IMO it is good, less intentives to hire illegals.
On the other hand, perhaps, since the employer pays workers compensation, this must just be a disincentive to hire these invaders.
Maybe the employer should be required to pay the cost of shipping the employee's illegal butt back to wherever it came from.
On the other hand, it might just be Kalipornia's way of deciding civil legal issues - help the illegals at any price.
businesses shouldn't hire illegals. that being said, businesses don't pay taxes. they just pass the cost to the
consumer.
there should be fines and suspensions on the business, but the illegal shouldn't get squat either.
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