New Charges in Monterey Workers' Comp Case

By Sophia Brink

Published on November 29, 2007

According to the case, manager Douglas Tateoka and former manager David Polk purportedly pressured Smurfit-Stone employees not to file workers' compensation claims for on-the-job injuries.

Among other allegations, the managers are accused of prohibiting 911 calls and threatening to dismiss employees who intended to file workers' compensation claims.

The new counts bring the total number of felony and misdemeanor counts filed to 44.

The third defendant, Eugene Guzman Jr., a physician's assistant at Pinnacle Urgent Care is not named in the new counts.

According to prosecutors, Guzman is accused of conspiring with Tateoka and Polk to commit workers' compensation fraud. Among other charges, Guzman allegedly dispensed prescription medicine in Polk's name so that injured employees could use the medication.

The three defendants plead not guilty.

No charges have been made against Chicago-based Smurfit-Stone.

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