My husband was hurt by at work and almost dued one year ago. We are fighting the company's worker's COMP insurance as well as the libality insurance. The problem is, my husband never recv'd payroll cks, always pd in cash. Now we have to prove that my husband was in fact an employee. We just recv'd notice from Workman's COMP that a "Settlement Confernece" is scheduled. We also got another notice from Workman's COMP of a "Trail of Merit" being schedule after the Settlement conference. What does this mean? Does this mean if we cannot come to a "Settlement" amount, then our case goes to trial? What does "Trail of Merit" mean??
Additional Details
OK...Yes, we have filed our taxes and included all monies that my husband has made. We found out (after the accident) that the company did not have worker's COMP and libaility ins on none of the employees. We figured the company was trying not to pay labor costs & higher insurance costs. We also found out that this company has doctored the books to show only a partion of the acutal company earnings (so the company wouldn't have to pay more taxes). This just goes to show you how much you really need to know who you are working for. The only proof that we have is one of the former owners saying "Yes" he was an employee and the 2nd is the current owner has stated that he was an Independant Contractor. Which is stupid on his part, b/c you still have to carry workman's COMP ins on Ind. Contractor's. PLUS...my husband did not work as an IC. All of the definations of an IC do not meet how my husband worked. He even clocked in everyday on a timeclock.
I do have a federal WC attorney.