Manhattan DA Cy Vance has indicted the owner of a Manhattan-based temp agency GT Systems for insurance fraud, collecting $25 million that was supposed to be paid into workers' comp. Eric Goldstein had allegedly been kicked out of the New York State Insurance Fund for failing to pay debts, and rather than pay for mandatory coverage, created over 50 fake subsidiaries of GT Systems and had his employees fill out fake paperwork. Vance said, “Fraud like this drives up premiums for honest New Yorkers, and hurts both taxpayers and our workforce." Goldstein faces up to 25 years in prison for the charges. more ›

Earlier this year, a Connecticut woman was severely mauled by her friend's 200-pound pet chimp Travis. Charla Nash "lost her nose, lips, eyelids, hands and bone structure in her mid-face and suffered significant brain, eye and tissue injuries in the attack," and her family sued chimp owner Sondra Herold for $50 million in damages. Now, Herold is seeking to call the suit a worker's compensation claim—because Nash worked for her and Travis the chimp was a part of the business. more ›

The city medical examiner ruled yesterday that the October death of 45-year-old Leon Heyward was caused by cancer he got from breathing in toxic dust at Ground Zero. He becomes the first addition to the official total since a Staten Island woman's death was linked to dust inhalation almost two years ago. Heyward worked as an investigator and helped get handicapped co-workers out at the Department of Consumer Affairs Office on Church Street after the planes hit. As the years went on, he began having seizures, became delusional and suffered memory loss. His sister told the News that the ruling is some vindication after Heyward had been denied worker's comp. She told the News, "There were a lot of people that weren't first responders. There are a lot of people walking around sick for the same reason and fighting the same battle we did." The medical examiner has declined to make similar rulings in half a dozen other cases. more ›