For immediate release: Dec.1, 2011

Lack of medical license not enough to keep Toledo man from treating injured workers

James E. Mann sentenced for workers’ comp fraud

COLUMBUS – A Toledo (Lucas County) man who treated injured workers without a medical license must repay the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) more than $100,000 as a result of his sentencing yesterday for workers’ compensation fraud. James E. Mann owned and operated Toledo Medical Evaluators, LLC, and performed disability exams and file reviews in both Ohio and federal workers’ compensation cases although he lost his license to practice medicine in two decades ago.

“We cannot endanger the health of injured workers by allowing anyone who is not a licensed physician to direct their care,” said BWC Administrator/CEO Stephen Buehrer. “Employers have workers’ comp coverage to ensure their workers receive quality care and they rightfully do not expect their premiums to go to anyone who would take advantage of the system.”

Mann, who has not held a medical license since his conviction in 1991 on nine counts of illegal processing of drug documents, contracted with two licensed physicians to perform exams on injured workers. However, an investigation by the BWC Special Investigations Department showed Mann personally conducted exams and erroneously reported that one of the licensed physicians conducted the exam. Mann then submitted the fraudulent exam reports to the Ohio Industrial Commission.

Mann pleaded no contest to a bill of information charging him with one felony count of Workers’ Compensation Fraud. Judge James Jensen of the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas found him guilty and ordered he pay $90,278.86 in restitution and $10,530.17 in investigative costs, as well as court costs and a supervision fee. Mann was also sentenced to five years of community control. He will serve 12 months in prison if he violates community control.

Mann previously pleaded guilty in the United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, to three counts of mail fraud. He was sentenced in that case on November 21 to one year of supervised release. Judge James Carr ordered Mann to pay $91,482.81 in restitution to the federal workers’ compensation program, in addition to a $100,000 fine and a $300 special assessment fee.

To report suspected workers’ compensation fraud, call 1-800-OHIOBWC, visit ohiobwc.com, or visit www.facebook.com/ohiobwcfraud.

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