Failure in Obligation to Self-Report Needs to be Proved
Read the full article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/fraud-licensed-paramedic-criminal-conduct-can-result-barry and https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 4050 posts.
Kevin A. Imhof (“Imhof”) appealed from the decision of the Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline (hereinafter the “Board”) finding that he engaged in unprofessional conduct. A final order of the Board (hereinafter the “Order”) found that Imhof, a Board-licensed paramedic, engaged in conduct constituting crimes substantially related to the practice of medicine; engaged in dishonorable, unethical, or other conduct likely to deceive, defraud, or harm the public; and wilfully failed to report certain conduct in a timely fashion. In Kevin Imhof v. Delaware Board Of Medical Licensure And Discipline, C. A. No. K21A-06-004 NEP, Superior Court of Delaware (January 26, 2022) a Delaware appellate court resolved some of the issues raised by the appeal.
FACTUAL HISTORY
In 2019, Imhof completed a questionnaire and underwent a pre-employment polygraph test as part of his application for a position with the Delaware State Police. On the questionnaire and during the test, Imhof made certain admissions, including the following:
he had accessed his former wife’s social media accounts, emails, and text messages without her permission during the second half of 2018;
he had driven to his former wife’s residence and had watched through an outside window while she and another individual engaged in sexual activity;
he had trespassed into his former wife’s house and committed lewd acts within; and
he had committed acts of vandalism by keying his former wife’s automobile, and then his own-to conceal his actions-and, thereafter, had filed a fraudulent insurance claim related to such damages.
In consequence, the Delaware State Police made a criminal referral. In September 2019, Imhof entered guilty pleas to the offenses of Criminal Mischief, Violation of Privacy, and Trespass with Intent to Peer or Peep. The remaining charges were dropped. Imhof did not inform the Board of the criminal charges or his convictions until he applied to renew his license in May 2020.
The hearing officer, after reviewing all the submitted and testimonial evidence, issued a written recommendation to the Board and recommended discipline. The hearing officer concluded that Imhof had violated the three statutory provisions and that by pleading guilty to two crimes the Board has determined to be “substantially related to medicine,” Imhof violated 24 Del. C. § 1731(b)(2); that Imhof had engaged in “dishonorable, unethical, or other conduct likely to deceive, defraud, or harm the public” in violation of 24 Del. C. § 1731(b)(3); and that Imhof’s report of his criminal conduct “was grossly untimely” in that he had waited nine months following his arrest to report the matter to the Board, thus violating 24 Del. C. § 1731(b)(14).
The hearing officer’s recommended discipline included suspension of Imhof’s Paramedic license.
DISCUSSION
Hearing Officer’s Recommendation
Administrative agencies operate less formally than courts of law. Accordingly, rules of evidence do not strictly apply to administrative hearings. The Board may hear all evidence which could conceivably throw light on the controversy. Only when the hearsay is incompetent will the Board’s reliance on such testimony be deemed an abuse of discretion. However, the Board should apply the rules of evidence insofar as practicable.
As to the evidentiary issue, Imhof’s conduct reported to the polygraph operator, at times, overstretched the bounds of relevance to the proceeding. Therefore, to the extent that this evidence was improperly admitted, the admission constituted harmless error.
The Board’s “Case Decision”
Delaware statutes find that unprofessional conduct is conduct that would constitute a crime substantially related to the practice of medicine. The Board has the power and duty to designate crimes that it deems substantially related to the practice of medicine. In addition, the Court has previously found that the Board followed the proper procedures in enacting Regulation 15.
Imhof’s primary argument regarding the “case decision” is that his conduct was not substantially related to the practice of medicine. However, two of Imhof’s pled offenses, Violation of Privacy and Trespassing with Intent to Peer or Peep, are listed among the crimes substantially related to the practice of medicine found in Regulation 15. Thus, there is no dispute that Imhof pled guilty to two of the listed crimes.
The Board, under its powers and duties, “shall” and did designate certain crimes to be substantially related to the practice of medicine and went through the proper administrative procedures to do so by enacting Regulation 15. There was substantial evidence both through Imhof’s own admissions in his questionnaire and polygraph, and by means of his guilty pleas, to find that the crimes were committed. Hence, by the authority of Regulation 15, the crimes are deemed “substantially related to the practice of medicine.”
The Board has promulgated a list of “dishonorable or unethical” conduct under Regulation 8. According to Regulation 8, “[t]he phrase ‘dishonorable or unethical conduct likely to deceive, defraud, or harm the public’ … shall include, but not be limited to . . . [a]ny . . . act tending to bring discredit upon the profession.” It is not difficult to perceive how the admitted wrongful conduct and actions would bring discredit to the profession.
The appellate court concluded that there was substantial evidence to support the finding by the Board that Imhof violated the statute by committing acts likely to “harm the public” and “discredit” the profession.
Without reversing the Board on the requirement to self-report, the court remanded the matter to the Board for further consideration of whether a wilful failure to report has been established and to consider whether the discipline imposed should be modified in light of any additional consideration of these matters by the Board.
The Court affirmed the Board’s finding that Imhof engaged in conduct constituting crimes substantially related to the practice of medicine in violation of statute and that he engaged in dishonorable, unethical, or other conduct likely to deceive, defraud, or harm the public. However, further inquiry by the Board is needed regarding whether Imhof wilfully failed to report certain conduct and whether, as a result of that inquiry, the discipline imposed should be modified.
ZALMA OPINION
The appellate court, dotting every “i” and crossing every “t” sent the case back to the Board to determine whether the failure to prove that Imhof intentionally failed to report his crimes to the Board, and whether that had any effect on the punishment. The criminal conduct should have been sufficient so, I expect, the Board will reconsider and then suspend the license.
© 2022 – Barry Zalma
Barry Zalma, Esq., CFE, now limits his practice to service as an insurance consultant specializing in insurance coverage, insurance claims handling, insurance bad faith and insurance fraud almost equally for insurers and policyholders.
He practiced law in California for more than 44 years as an insurance coverage and claims handling lawyer and more than 54 years in the insurance business.
Subscribe to “Zalma on Insurance” at https://zalmaoninsurance.locals.com/subscribe and “Excellence in Claims Handling” at https://barryzalma.substack.com/welcome.
You can contact Mr. Zalma at https://www.zalma.com, https://www.claimschool.com, [email protected] and [email protected]. Mr. Zalma is the first recipient of the first annual Claims Magazine/ACE Legend Award.
You may find interesting the podcast “Zalma On Insurance” at https://anchor.fm/barry-zalma; you can follow Mr. Zalma on Twitter at; you should see Barry Zalma’s videos on https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCysiZklEtxZsSF9DfC0Expg/featured; or videos on https://rumble.com/zalma. Go to the Insurance Claims Library – https://zalma.com/blog/insurance-claims–library/ The last two issues of ZIFL are available at https://zalma.com/zalmas-insurance-fraud-letter-2/
The Professional Claims Handler
Post 5218
Read the full article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/zalma-philosophy-claims-handling-part-8-barry-zalma-esq-cfe-zdwsc, see the full video at https://rumble.com/v70zl4s-the-zalma-philosophy-of-claims-handling-part-8.html and at https://youtu.be/MIYcF71ffRQ, and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5200 posts.
Claims Commandment X – Thou Shall Not Pretend to be a Lawyer
Some experienced and professional claims people know the law in their area of expertise better than most lawyers.
Adjusters should be adjusters and leave lawyering to lawyers. Similarly, lawyers should be lawyers and never try to be adjusters.
Claims Commandment XI – Thou Shall Empathize With the Claimant
Everyone presenting a claim is unhappy, disturbed, shocked, injured and needs help.
Empathy is identification with and understanding of another’s situation, feelings, and motives. It is the ability to understand another person’s circumstances, point of view, thoughts, and feelings....
HOW TO CREATE AN EXCELLENCE IN CLAIMS HANDLING PROGRAM
See the full video at https://rumble.com/v70wb2i-the-zalma-philosophy-of-claims-handling-part-6.html and at https://youtu.be/tL5nDKPEs40 and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5200 posts.
Post 5217
This is a change from my normal blog postings. It is my attempt. in more than one post, to explain the need for professional claims representatives who comply with the basic custom and practice of the insurance industry.
An Excellence in Claims Handling program begins with a statement in the insurer’s claims manual or statement of professionalism that it is dedicated to providing excellence in claims handling to every insured who presents a claim.
The excellence in claims handling program should include, at a minimum:
A series of lectures supported by text materials explaining:
A definition of insurance.
How to read and understand an insurance policy.
How to interview an insured, witness, or claimant.
How to assist an insured in the insured’s obligation to ...
The Professional Claims Handler
Post 5216
Read the full article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/zalma-philosophy-claims-handling-part-5-barry-zalma-esq-cfe-jde8c, see the full video at https://rumble.com/v70q4x8-the-zalma-philosophy-of-claims-handling-part-5.html and at https://youtu.be/6b9tZQsEkB4, and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5200 posts.
This is a change from my normal blog postings. It is my attempt. in more than one post, to explain the need for professional claims representatives who comply with the basic custom and practice of the insurance industry.
Standards to be a Professional Claims Adjuster
The Insurance claims professional should be a person who:
1. Can read and understand the insurance policies issued by the insurer.
2. Understands the promises made by the policy.
3. Understand their obligation, as an insurer’s claims staff, to fulfill the promises made.
4. Are competent investigators.
5. Have empathy and recognize the difference between empathy and sympathy.
6. ...
The Professional Claims Handler
Post 5219
Posted on October 31, 2025 by Barry Zalma
An Insurance claims professionals should be a person who:
Can read and understand the insurance policies issued by the insurer.
Understands the promises made by the policy.
Understand their obligation, as an insurer’s claims staff, to fulfill the promises made.
Are competent investigators.
Have empathy and recognize the difference between empathy and sympathy.
Understand medicine relating to traumatic injuries and are sufficiently versed in tort law to deal with lawyers as equals.
Understand how to repair damage to real and personal property and the value of the repairs or the property.
Understand how to negotiate a fair and reasonable settlement with the insured that is fair and reasonable to both the insured and the insurer.
How to Create Claims Professionals
To avoid fraudulent claims, claims of breach of contract, bad faith, punitive damages, unresolved losses, and to make a profit, insurers ...
The History Behind the Creation of a Claims Handling Expert
The Insurance Industry Needs to Implement Excellence in Claims Handling or Fail
Post 5210
This is a change from my normal blog postings. It is my attempt. in more than one post, to explain the need for professional claims representatives who comply with the basic custom and practice of the insurance industry. This statement of my philosophy on claims handling starts with my history as a claims adjuster, insurance defense and coverage lawyer and insurance claims handling expert.
My Training to be an Insurance Claims Adjuster
When I was discharged from the US Army in 1967 I was hired as an insurance adjuster trainee by a professional and well respected insurance company. The insurer took a chance on me because I had been an Army Intelligence Investigator for my three years in the military and could use that training and experience to be a basis to become a professional insurance adjuster.
I was initially sat at a desk reading a text-book on insurance ...
The History Behind the Creation of a Claims Handling Expert
The Insurance Industry Needs to Implement Excellence in Claims Handling or Fail
Post 5210
This is a change from my normal blog postings. It is my attempt. in more than one post, to explain the need for professional claims representatives who comply with the basic custom and practice of the insurance industry. This statement of my philosophy on claims handling starts with my history as a claims adjuster, insurance defense and coverage lawyer and insurance claims handling expert.
My Training to be an Insurance Claims Adjuster
When I was discharged from the US Army in 1967 I was hired as an insurance adjuster trainee by a professional and well respected insurance company. The insurer took a chance on me because I had been an Army Intelligence Investigator for my three years in the military and could use that training and experience to be a basis to become a professional insurance adjuster.
I was initially sat at a desk reading a text-book on insurance ...
