SW Washington Logger Convicted of Benefit Theft
A southwest Washington logger must serve 60 days home detention and repay more than $163,000 after he admitted stealing workers’ comp benefits from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), which administers the state workers’ comp system, from January 2018 to January 2020. James Thomasson claimed injuries from working in the woods led to disabilities that affected his ability to work, and a medical provider said he was eligible for lost wages payments. However, after receiving a tip, L&I investigators caught Thomasson performing multiple activities that were inconsistent with his medical restrictions including walking briskly uphill, lifting heavy tools over his head and dancing. Upon reassessment, the provider noted he had “engaged in well-executed intentional underperformance” of his abilities, which led to the second-degree theft plea.
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Mercer Launches ‘Growing Forests – Growing A Future’
Mercer had announced the launch of a program supporting forest owners in Germany, called “Growing Forests – Growing A Future.” Mercer Holz, the wood purchasing arm of Mercer, is committed to partnering with forest owners in Germany to sustain the longevity of their forests. Over the next few years, in a concrete step of solidarity, Mercer will provide participating forest owners across Germany with a careful selection of seedlings to help replenish their forests. This is one of the first company-sponsored large-scale tree planting endeavors within the German wood products industry…
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