DA: Perjury Charge Filed Against Man Who Lied About Being Severely Disabled For Years

Bucks County authorities say James George Douris claimed before a judge that he was so physically disabled he couldn’t write, get to his front door or hold a glass of water. The problem: county detectives alleged they gathered photographs of him painting his Upper Makefield house while on a ladder, using a leaf blower on the roof of his home and operating a power saw while building a large wooden play set in his backyard.

The 59-year-old was charged Wednesday afternoon with felony perjury and misdemeanor false swearing. He was arraigned and was released on $100,000 bail.

County authorities alleged Douris submitted false invoices and receipts while under oath in one case and lied before Falls Township District Judge Jan Vislosky and County Judge Robert J. Mellon. The district attorney’s office stated in court papers and a press release that they believe Douris was anything but physically disabled.

Over the past 15 years, Douris has filed numerous civil cases in federal court in Philadelphia, Heckler said. A press release stated 16 appeals were filed in the 15 civil cases. “He has lost virtually all of these actions, many of which were dismissed as frivolous,” a press release said.

Prosecutors said the 59-year-old “portrayed himself to federal courts as a severely disabled individual incapable of paying the filing fees and other expenses normally associated with such litigation.”

“He’s had so many cases,” District Attorney David Heckler said of Douris history of civil filings. “We’ve looked at him for years.”

Heckler said his office could only file charges against Douris for perjury they could prove happened in Bucks County.

In 2011, Douris submitted fake billing documents to Vislosky’s court in connection with a civil case he had against Charles Becker of Levittown and Becker Tree Service Inc., authorities alleged in court papers. The faked documents were filed in 2011 and helped make the case the tree service caused $5,000 in alleged damages due to “faulty work by a tree service that he hired,” according to court papers and a press release.

In May, Douris allegedly lied several times to Mellon about his alleged disabilities during a hearing related to a civil case. He told the judge he was not able to walk or write and even told Mellon what his alleged conditions were.

The Bucks County District Attorney’s Office said special accommodations were made so Douris could attend hearings and cases he was involved with. Heckler said he was unsure of the exact amount those accommodations cost taxpayers.

Between 2012 and 2014, county detectives investigating Douris’ alleged fraud saw him engage in activities that someone in the physical condition he claimed would not have been able to complete, court papers say.

According to the district attorney’s office:

In 2010, Douris was featured in news stories that drew international attention when he sued the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare for not providing his “service dog” with food stamps. In an appeal to Commonwealth Court, Douris claimed that he was so disabled that he needed the dog to fetch items for him and to pull him around in his wheelchair, alleging that he was physically unable to propel himself. The Commonwealth Court refused his request, but was nonetheless mislead by Douris into openly sympathizing with his predicament.

“I don’t think his dog is anymore a disability service dog than I am an Army ranger,” Heckler remarked.

More recently, Douris managed to parlay the water damage from a rain and windstorm at his home in 2009 into successful insurance claims approaching $200,000. In correspondence to his insurance company, Douris frequently invoked his rights as a disabled person, accusing the company of violating the Americans With Disabilities Act when it rejected some of his demands. Among his more outrageous claims was a demand for $50,000 to compensate for the death of a “service cat” that supposedly reminded Douris when it was time to take certain medications. When contacted by investigators about the possibility of investigating insurance fraud, the insurance company stated that it was not interested in pursuing the matter.

Many of the aforesaid misrepresentations over the years appear not to have been committed within Bucks County’s jurisdiction.

Officials said they were not aware on whether Douris was employed. Heckler did note that Douris did live with his wife.

Heckler said it was his understanding Douris was transported to the police station for booking via an ambulance Wednesday afternoon. The district attorney said the 59-year-old claimed he needed the ambulance transport because of his alleged “physical disabilities,” which county detectives say are bogus.

“We’ll be sure he will pay for it,” Heckler said about the ambulance trip.

Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.