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3 Area Businesses Listed as Workers Comp Deadbeats
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Three Mahoning Valley businesses -- including one located in an industrial park developed by the city of Youngstown -- are among 100 Ohio companies who owe at least $10,000 in unpaid workers' compensation premiums, according to the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation.Yesterday the bureau released to news organizations the names of these companies and also published the list on its Web site. Two of the businesses are based in Youngstown -- Buckeye Tire Recycling LLC, located in the Performance Place Industrial Park, and R. Tumbleweed Transportation LLC, located on the west side. Also on the list is a Cortland company , R&J Linger Markets Inc."We will not tolerate businesses that are trying to cheat Ohio's workers' compensation system," said James Conrad, BWC administrator and chief executive officer. "Those that try will face serious consequences." Of the 100 employers on the list, 73 are headquartered in Ohio, while others are located as far east as New Jersey and west to Oregon. Collectively, the group owes more than $2.2 million covering the six-month payroill period beginning Jan. 1 and ending June 30. Specific premium amounts for each company are not public record.Overall, more than 1,800 companies owe BWC at least $1,000 apiece, according to Conrad. These premium obligations were to be paid in full by Aug. 31.Companies that fail to pay premiums not only hurt the workers' compensation system, they also adversely affect Ohio businesses and citizens, Conrad said. "By not paying premiums, a business can use that money for other purposes," he explained. "They can undercut competition and unfairly win a job, stealing work they normally might not win. They also pose problems to private citizens who may contract for their services. For the good of BWC and all Ohioans, this type of activity must end." The workers' comp bureau works aggressively to get non-compliant employers to pay their premiums, its CEO noted. The bureau immediately sends offending employers a notice, alerting them their workers' compensation premium has not been paid. BWC then attempts to work with the business to regain coverage through phone calls, letters and business visits. Should these efforts fail, their premium amount is certified to the attorney general's office for legal action. The Attorney General's office assesses interest to lapsed accounts and in some situations, will file a lien or even enjoin the property. Should an employee be injured on the job while the business' workers' compensation coverage is lapsed, the employer would have to pay dollar for dollar the cost of the claim. In July, the Bureau released the names of 172 employers that owed the most in outstanding premiums. Of those employers, 68 were certified to the attorney general's office for legal action. The other businesses either paid their premiums, cancelled their coverage, or filed for bankruptcy, Conrad said.Visit the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation."