According to the charging papers, Clifford Wayne Dumas, 67, received more than $50,000 in workers’ compensation benefits from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I). He received the benefits while attesting on more than 10 occasions that he was too injured to work.

Those benefits included $26,000 in wage replacement payments, $16,000 in medical care, and nearly $14,000 in vocational training services. Despite his statements to the contrary, an L&I investigation said Dumas was working the entire time.

He pleaded not guilty Jan. 5 in King County Superior Court on a single count of first-degree theft.

“Our investigation showed Mr. Dumas intentionally abused the workers’ compensation system, signing documents affirming he wasn’t capable of working,” said Randy Littlefield, acting assistant director of L&I’s Customer Service, Compliance, and Public Safety Division. “The money and benefits he is accused of fraudulently taking could have gone to help workers who were truly injured, and that’s the real damage here.”

After injury, more driving
Dumas drove for Seattle-based Trans West, a transportation services company. According to the L&I investigation, in April 2023 he filed a claim with L&I that he had injured his shoulders and lower back slipping at work. L&I accepted the claim and provided workers’ comp payments.

Through March 2024, Dumas filed 11 worker status forms, claiming he was unable to work and was not working.

According to the charging papers, Trans West, which was paying a higher workers’ comp premium because of the injury, found out that Dumas was doing other work and informed L&I. Dumas earned about $33,000 each from King County Metro and WeDriveU Seattle during the time he was collecting state workers’ compensation benefits.

When confronted, L&I investigators say Dumas denied working for the companies. L&I confirmed his identity with the other employers. Investigators also checked with the doctor from whom Dumas initially received treatment. The doctor found the initial diagnosis should have required only six weeks of treatment.

The Washington State Attorney General’s Office filed the charges based on L&I’s investigation. The penalty for felony theft includes the potential for prison time and up to a $20,000 fine, plus restitution and court costs.

Report workers’ comp fraud
If you see or suspect someone is cheating the workers’ compensation system, contact L&I's Fraud division (Lni.wa.gov/Fraud) or call 1-888-811-5974.