State authorities say former New Haven teacher illegally collected worker’s comp

ROCKY HILL — A former New Haven school teacher has been arrested and charged for continuing to collect worker’s compensation after recovering from her injury, officials say.

In a release, the state Division of Criminal Justice said Pamela Reichbart, a 59-year-old Woodbridge resident, was arrested by inspectors from the Workers’ Compensation Fraud Control Unit in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney and charged with one count of fraudulent claim or receipt of benefits, one count of first-degree larceny, defrauding a public community and one count of perjury. It said Reichbart illegally collected $16,000 in benefits during her employment as a teacher with the city of New Haven.

The DCJ said Reichbart was working as a special education teacher when, on Oct. 3, 2019, she sustained a head injury and was placed on temporary total disability. Starting on that day, it said, she began receiving wage replacement and medical benefits paid through Connecticut Interlocal

Risk Management Agency, the third-party administrator for the city of New Haven’s workers’ compensation program.

During the period of disability, the DCJ said, the recipient is considered to have zero work capacity and must inform her employer of any medical improvement, and to report any other employment income beyond the benefits provided.

“While receiving TTD benefits, Reichbart failed to disclose between the months of August through December 2020 that she had any medical improvement, or that she was engaged in work-related activities at Giordano Monuments,” it said. “Reichbart never disclosed these facts to her medical provider or CIRMA, and denied she was engaged in any work-related activities while collecting benefits during a deposition under oath by the law offices of Strunk, Dodge, Aiken & Zovas.”

The DCJ said Reichbart surrendered to police on Tuesday at the Rocky Hill Police Department. It said was released on $10,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in state Superior Court in New Haven on Oct. 4.