Ex-Firefighter Acquitted on Fraud Charges
By Matt Coughlin, Staff Writer
A former Bensalem volunteer firefighter was acquitted of all charges in an insurance fraud case during a bench trial.
David Jerri, 27, was cleared of all charges after Thursday’s verdict handed down by Bucks County Judge Albert Cepparulo in Doylestown. “I’m just glad it’s all over,” said Jerri after the decision.
Jerri had been accused of attempting to defraud his employer’s insurance fund to collect workers’ compensation. Jerri had sought to receive nearly $6,864 for injuries he claimed to have sustained while firefighting.
During the trial, Jerri’s defense attorney, Louis Busico, argued that his client was entitled to the compensation and had not committed any fraud.
One firefighter testified that he saw Jerri outside of the burning building on September 17, 2011, and Jerri’s arm was swollen. He said he’d brought it to the chief’s attention and Jerri was taken by ambulance to be treated at the hospital.
Robert Scarfo, the employer at the time, testified that Jerri told him he had been hurt before the incident on September 15. Scarfo stated Jerri had informed him of a previous injury he sustained while playing hockey and that he had not sought medical attention for it.
Jerri had initially told his supervisors that he was hurt on the job, but later said he had hurt his hand in a hockey game. He explained that he had been performing maintenance on the firehouse equipment when the pain flared up again, prompting him to seek medical treatment.
However, Scarfo and Corson testified that Jerri’s hand appeared to be wrapped in some form of cast or bandage after the fire incident.
During the trial, it was revealed that a detective assigned to the case by Bensalem Public Safety Director Fred Harran had spoken with the worker’s compensation agent and had determined that Jerri’s employment at the time was not within the scope of his duties at the firehouse.
Prosecutors alleged that Jerri had intentionally sought to defraud his employer by seeking compensation for an injury that occurred outside of work hours. However, Busico argued that insurance allows for payment of workers’ compensation when an earlier injury that didn't prevent someone from working is aggravated by a subsequent incident, making it compensable under the workers’ compensation laws.
After reviewing all the evidence and hearing testimonies from both sides, Judge Cepparulo found that there was insufficient evidence to prove that Jerri had committed fraud beyond a reasonable doubt.
Assistant District Attorney Ryan Hyde declined to comment after the verdict.
Busico expressed his relief at the outcome, stating, “Justice has been served. Mr. Jerri was overwhelmingly demonstrated that he did not commit any fraud and was entitled to the workers’ compensation benefits he received.”
---
This case exemplifies Louis Busico’s dedication to ensuring justice for his clients. His expertise and strategic defense led to a fair verdict, upholding the principle that every individual is entitled to a robust defense and fair trial.
Comments