Another Example Of Out Of Control Government

From the San Fran Chronicle: California's workers' compensation system has awarded millions of dollars in benefits for job-related injuries to thousands of professional athletes, including many who played for out-of-state teams, according to a report.

Sports leagues and their insurers are working to stop the practice, which has paid an estimated $747 million to about 4,500 players since the early 1980s, according to the Los Angeles Times (http://lat.ms/XLiSkD ).

Some of the athletes played as little as one game in California.

Denver Broncos running back Terrell Davis, a former Super Bowl Most Valuable Player, got a $199,000 settlement for injuries related to football. This came despite the fact Davis was on the roster of a Colorado team and played just nine times in the Golden State during an 88-game career, the newspaper said.

Among other sports stars receiving settlements were NBA star Moses Malone, who was awarded $155,000, and Dallas Cowboys great Michael Irvin, who received $249,000.
The athletes are taking advantage of a provision in state law that provides payments for the cumulative effect of injuries over years of playing.
The benefits usually come as lump-sum settlements but sometimes provide lifetime medical services.
California taxpayers are not responsible for these payments; workers' compensation is an employer-funded program. Anyone who is employed in the state for any period of time can be eligible for benefits to pay for medical expenses and compensate for work-related disabilities.
"The system is completely out of whack right now," said Jeff Gewirtz, vice president of the NBA's Brooklyn Nets, told the Times....

"California is a last resort for a lot of these guys because they've already been cut off in the other states," said Mel Owens, a former Los Angeles Rams linebacker who is now a compensation lawyer.

Legislation in Sacramento being drafted by team owners would not limit the ability of athletes for the Los Angeles Lakers, San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders and other in-state teams to seek cumulative trauma benefits under California law, the Times said. However, it would protect those teams from being hit by big claims from out-of-state players, who might have spent just a few weeks at a training camp with a California team at some point in their careers.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Report-Athletes-cash-in-on-Calif-workers-comp-4302828.php#ixzz2LqgoRTXa
They say that taxpayers are not affected, but who pays for the workman's compensation?  Employers do and in turn, consumers.
I think I should work in California for a few weeks and then claim workman's comp when I retire and get  nice pay out.