California Dept. of Insurance announces $1.5 million grant to fight fraud

RIVERSIDE - The California Department of Insurance announced $1.5 million in grant money today to help Riverside County authorities investigate and prosecute workers' compensation insurance fraud.

Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones said workers' compensation fraud places a ''significant'' added burden on the insurance system at a time when the state is facing a $15.7 billion budget deficit.

''We have an obligation to provide protection to injured workers who require both care and compensation so they are able to get back to work as quickly as possible, while also rooting out fraud perpetrated b...