Hopfauf v. North Dakota Workers Compensation Bureau

# Hopfauf v. North Dakota Workers Compensation Bureau **What Happened** Hopfauf received disability benefits from North Dakota's Workers Compensation Bureau while claiming he was unable to work. However, the Bureau discovered he had made false statements about his employment status and income during his claim. The Bureau investigated and found that Hopfauf had deliberately provided misleading information to qualify for or maintain his benefits. **What the Court Decided** The North Dakota Supreme Court sided with the Workers Compensation Bureau. The court upheld the Bureau's decision to strip Hopfauf of his future disability benefits because of his willful misstatements about his work and earnings. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case reinforces that workers receiving disability or workers' compensation benefits must provide honest and accurate information. Deliberately lying about employment or income—even if struggling financially—can result in losing benefits entirely, not just repayment of overpaid amounts. Workers should report any changes in their work status or earnings accurately to avoid serious consequences.