Jose Silva v. Martin Lumber Company,

The employer appeals the judgment of the trial court awarding the employee 36% vocational disability to his left hand. The employer contends that the employee is not eligible for workers' compensation benefits because he is an illegal alien who committed fraud by presenting false documentation of his eligibility for employment. We find that injured worker in this case is an "employee" within the meaning of the Workers' Compensation Act. We hold that by presenting falsified documentation of employment eligibility, the employee did not make a false representation as to his physical condition and that there was no causal connection between this false representation and the injury to warrant denial of benefits. Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed..