The Phantom Rolls Royce
Read the full article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/true-crime-insurance-fraud-video-number-45-barry-zalma-esq-cfe, see the full video at https://rumble.com/vz198h-true-crime-of-insurance-fraud-video-number-45.html and at and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 4150 posts.
Barry Zalma, Esq., CFE presents videos so you can learn how insurance fraud is perpetrated and what is necessary to deter or defeat insurance fraud.
The Auto Theft Fraud
In many states, before a car can be insured, the agent must photograph the car and its vehicle identification number. This regulation is an effective weapon against fraudulent auto theft claims.
The insured managed to purchase material damage insurance on a Rolls Royce in a state where the regulation was fully effective even though he never owned a Rolls Royce automobile. His technique was flawless. His planning immaculate. He was only thwarted in his efforts because of the actions of a dedicated and thorough investigator.
To start his plan, the insured went to a Beverly Hills classic automobile dealer and took two Polaroid photographs (slightly out of focus) of a 1946 Rolls Royce. Unlike modern cars, the vehicle identification number was not in the windshield of the Rolls. It was, however, written on the specification sheet provided to him by the dealer.
He produced a bill of sale purportedly signed by the neighbor reflecting a $100,000 sale. The insured produced the ownership certificate and the registration establishing the vehicle existed. He claimed to have forgotten to bring with him the keys to the vehicle. Counsel then presented the true documents, item by item.
The insured claimed that the documents recorded at the Department of Motor Vehicles were filed by the seller and he had no knowledge of the changes made by the seller. In fact, he could not understand why the seller had filed such strange documents.
After counsel had established, with certainly in counsel’s mind, that the insured had sworn falsely, the examination under oath was terminated. Counsel met with the attorney for the insured, privately, and explained that the insured’s claim was in great peril.
The attorney for the insured responded:
“The bad faith lawsuit I told you to expect will not be filed by me.”
The insured had made one serious error: he hired an honest lawyer. His lawyer and counsel for the Classic Car Insurance Company discussed possible resolution of the matter, including the withdrawal of the claim or a mutual rescission of the policy. Counsel for the insured promised to speak with his client and communicate with the insurer.
Fraud Fails but Fraudster Not Punished
Classic Car Insurance Company saved a $100,000 claim. It spent $30,000 investigating the claim and defeating it. It was lucky. No litigation followed. It reported the loss to the state’s Fraud Bureau who now has the insured’s name on record. There has been no prosecution.
No prosecution is anticipated or expected. The Fraud Bureau is simply inundated with fraudulent insurance claims and must limit its prosecutorial efforts to major crimes that exceed $1,000,000 or rings of insurance fraud perpetrators who file multiple claims.
(c) 2022 Barry Zalma & ClaimSchool, Inc.
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. He is available at http://www.zalma.com and [email protected].
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Motion for Summary Judgment Requires Evidence Establishing Defenses
Post 5223
Read the full article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/motion-summary-judgment-fail-because-insurer-failed-zalma-esq-cfe-jhfsc, see the video at and at and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5200 posts.
In Michael Tillema, Kim Til- Lema v. Meridian Security Insurance Company, No. SA-24-CV-00661-JKP, United States District Court, W.D. Texas, San Antonio Division (October 7, 2025) Plaintiffs Michael Tillema and Kim Til-Lema claimed coverage from Meridian Security Insurance Company for benefits for alleged wind and hail damage from a storm on April 26, 2022.
Meridian Security Insurance Company denied the claim, citing inspection reports and weather data indicating no hail event occurred on the alleged date. Plaintiffs hired an independent contractor, who also found no hail within one mile of the property on the ...
Hertz Succesfully Refuses to Pay Alleged Fraudulent Health Care Providers
Post 5222
Read the full article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/man-bites-dog-story-hertz-sues-alleged-fraudsters-zalma-esq-cfe-efbgc, see the video at and at and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5200 posts.
Proactive Victim of Fraud Defeats Health Care Providers
In Hertz Vehicles, LLC v. Alignment Chiropractic, P.C., et al, Index No. 157368/2024, 2025 NY Slip Op 33627(U), Motion Seq. No. 001, NYSCEF Doc. No. 46, Supreme Court, New York County (September 30, 2025) Plaintiff alleged it is not obligated to pay no-fault benefits for the medical treatment of defendants for injuries while occupants of a 2023 Hyundai, owned and self-insured by Hertz.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
Plaintiff moved for a default judgment against defendants Alignment Chiropractic, P.C., and many other alleged health care providers.
Plaintiff also ...
Hertz Succesfully Refuses to Pay Alleged Fraudulent Health Care Providers
Post 5222
Read the full article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/man-bites-dog-story-hertz-sues-alleged-fraudsters-zalma-esq-cfe-efbgc, see the video at and at and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5200 posts.
Proactive Victim of Fraud Defeats Health Care Providers
In Hertz Vehicles, LLC v. Alignment Chiropractic, P.C., et al, Index No. 157368/2024, 2025 NY Slip Op 33627(U), Motion Seq. No. 001, NYSCEF Doc. No. 46, Supreme Court, New York County (September 30, 2025) Plaintiff alleged it is not obligated to pay no-fault benefits for the medical treatment of defendants for injuries while occupants of a 2023 Hyundai, owned and self-insured by Hertz.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
Plaintiff moved for a default judgment against defendants Alignment Chiropractic, P.C., and many other alleged health care providers.
Plaintiff also moved...
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 ...
