The Nassau County district attorney’s office is investigating a case involving North Hempstead’s former highway construction supervisor, a spokesman confirmed on Monday, following a decision by a state panel that he misrepresented work-related claims to obtain benefits.
The former supervisor, John Tiernan, a 27-year town employee, was asked to resign after the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board found he “knowingly made material misrepresentations” to get benefits, according to Newsday.
A spokesman for the district attorney said a case involving Tiernan was referred to the office on Aug. 23 and that it is being reviewed, but declined further comment.
Town spokeswoman Carole Trottere said, “Mr. Tiernan resigned as part of a settlement resolved through a release of all claims approved by the board.”
Tiernan could not be reached for comment on Monday.
According to Newsday’s review of the decision, Tiernan sought to claim compensation with the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board in May 2016. He said that he dealt with “repetitive stress/use injuries” related to his job involving his shoulders, knees and spine, but didn’t answer whether he remembered any other injuries affecting those locations.
In a later hearing, according to Newsday, he “conceded” to having a car accident in 2003 that required him to have spinal fusion surgery but said there was nothing involving either of his shoulders. Later, Newsday reported, his medical records from the accident showed he had injuries to his right shoulder, lower back and right leg.
This led to a panel rescinding an October 2016 decision to award a claim for “occupational diseases” with his shoulders and knees, according to Newsday, leading to testimony showing Tiernan also did not do as much manual labor as he’d previously stated.
It was later concluded that Tiernan “should remain permanently disqualified from being eligible to receive indemnity benefits for his repetitive stress/use injuries,” Newsday reported.
