SALINAS, California- On August 14, 2019, Raymond John Coopersmith, Jr., 55, of Carmel, was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to pay a $3,000 fine for failing to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Coopersmith faces up to one year in county jail and additional fines if he violates his probation.

On February 22, 2019, the Contractor State Licensing Board (CSLB) investigated Coopersmith’s business, “Carmel Coatings”, for the use of uninsured labor at a home in Carmel. At the time, Coopersmith’s contractor license was suspended and he had filed a Workers’ Compensation Exemption with the CSLB – stating that he had no employees and did not need workers’ compensation insurance. During the investigation, CSLB interviewed a worker at the project and determined that Coopersmith was the employer.

“CSLB works to protect consumers who hire contactors to do work at their homes,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.  “Contractors should be licensed and if they have workers, should have workers’ comp insurance.  This way, should a worker become injured on the job, the property owner doesn’t get stuck for any related medical costs.”

The case was referred to the Monterey County District Attorney’s Workers Compensation Fraud Unit. Coopersmith was charged with failing to secure workers’ compensation insurance, a misdemeanor violation of Labor Code section 3700.5. The case was investigated by the Contractor State Licensing Board.

California law requires all employers to secure workers’ compensation insurance for their employees. Workers’ compensation insurance ensures employees injured on the job have adequate medical coverage and other benefits.