Paydays Were Twice As Nice, truck driver may be told to pay back $157,000

This is a civic problem, not a union problem so I posted it here. Manuel and I are both AFSCME members though.

http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-hfdpay0623.artjun23,0,3322873.story?track=mostviewedlink

Paydays Were Twice As Nice
But Officials May Ask City Worker To Return $157,000
June 23, 2007
By DANIEL E. GOREN, Courant Staff Writer

Since 2003, Hartford sanitation driver Manuel A. Garcia has had plenty to smile about on payday.

But not anymore.

Every week for nearly four years, Garcia had been cashing paychecks erroneously issued for double his wage, city officials said. And though it's unclear how the city discovered the mistake, the hefty checks seem to be the result of computer error.

Officials now are investigating the case, and the truck driver may be told to pay back $157,000.

Those familiar with the situation say that when Garcia received his first few mega-checks in 2003, he reported the errors, and on the next payday he got the correct amount. But the problem recurred on the very next check. And from then on, Garcia kept his mouth shut, officials said.

The city's internal auditor and its corporation counsel's office are investigating the matter, city officials said. Garcia is still on the job but getting paid his correct wage. City officials are waiting for the investigations to conclude before passing judgment.

FULL story at link.

he had been mistaken for a defense contractor.

:rofl:

I wonder if he is truly liable. He reported the error it's not his fault his company screwed up. Payroll should of made sure his paycheck was correct.

the payroll person and accounting manager need to be soooo fired, though.

wasn't his, and he kept it anyway.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unjust_enrichment

I hate to think of people this way but i am willing to bet he didnt save or invest the extra. I bet he just lived a lot higher than he should have. If he had invested the extra money and made even 5% (easily done with CD's or Treasuries) he would be able to pay it back and keep the gains.

I wonder if he bought a nicer car and a boat.