Court Upholds Comp Benefits To Injured Illegal Worker

A U.S. District Court judge has dismissed an insurer’s request to forgo payment of workers compensation benefits for an undocumented landscaper’s injury. The worker had been hired to work for Peconic, New York-based Natural Images Landscaping Inc. when he suffered an injury to his neck on May 7, 2015 while assisting in the removal of a tree, according to the ruling on Tuesday. According to court documents, NorGuard Insurance Co. provided workers comp to Natural Images but sought a declaratory judgment that it wasn’t obligated to pay medical expenses, indemnity payments or comp benefits because he had entered the U.S. illegally.