Insurance Agent Charged For His Own Workers’ Comp Fraud

A Washington state insurance agent has been charged with felony theft for a workers’ compensation scam. James C. Kooy, 53, has been accused of claiming he was too disabled to work while running his own insurance agency. Authorities say he fraudulently received more than $233,000 in benefits. Kooy started receiving benefits in 2008 for a knee injury he sustained while working as a heavy-equipment operator, according to workcompcentral.com. He also filed a 2010 claim for repetitive-motion injuries to his hands and shoulder for the same job. The same year, authorities say Kooy opened By The Lake Insurance Agency, listing himself as half-owner, president and registered agent. The Washington Department of Labor and Industries stopped paying Kooy benefits after the agency opened, but Kooy’s lawyer said he was unable to work and was selling the business, so L&I resumed paying benefits.