Filpside of Illegal Immigration, Part II
Via Confined Space is an example of why companies fight hard to continue hiring illegal employees – and lobbying to avoid responsibility for doing so.
He broke a rib and injured a kidney, and his right lung collapsed. He also hit his head on the floor, severely injuring his brain’s frontal lobe, which controls language, memory and motor function.Ruiz was in a coma, able to breathe only with a ventilator.
His younger brother, Jose, left his wife, two young children and his job in Mexico and rushed to Charlotte.
Ruiz’s wife followed, with a temporary pass to enter the country, leaving her three children behind. When she arrived at Carolinas Medical Center, she found the Virgin of Guadalupe medal in her husband’s hand.
Nurses were hoping for a miracle, but at Belk Masonry, a counterattack had begun.
The Companion Property & Casualty Insurance Co. paid his initial medical bills, but adjusters wanted to know all about Francisco Ruiz. When they discovered his illegal work status, they rejected his claim.
The law in North Carolina, as in most states, says that illegal immigrants who are hurt on the job are entitled to compensation. Companies, the law says, must pay injury benefits to “every person engaged in employment … whether lawfully or unlawfully employed.”
But officials at Companion Property & Casualty questioned the law’s intent. Why should they pay an alien who lied about his immigration status to get his job? How could an illegal worker technically be considered an employee?
Mr. Ruiz took the company to court and won. Of course, the workers comp company president defended the refusal to pay for medical care:
The company was disappointed but not surprised.“We’re always viewed as the deep pocket,” said Companion President Charles Potok. “If you’re talking about paying somebody or cutting someone off cold, we typically lose.”
Of course, there is no mention of responsibility on the part of the Belk Masonry Co. – Mr. Ruiz’ employer.
Thom Hartmann comments on why companies fight to hire illegal immigrants in the first place.
- Sousy
July 14th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
According to my view this illegal immigrants who hurt on the job are entitled to compensation. Companies, the law says, must pay injury benefits to every everybody engaged in employment. Whether lawfully or unlawfully employed always viewed as the deep pocket, this statement is told by Companion President Charles Potok severely injuring his brain’s frontal lobe, which controls diction, memory and motor function.