I Did It - I Set the Fire to Help the Owner
Read the full article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/true-crime-insurance-fraud-video-number-50-barry-zalma-esq-cfe and see the full video at https://rumble.com/vzyy1l-true-crime-of-insurance-fraud-video-number-50.html?mref=6zof&mrefc=2 and at and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 4150 posts.
Posted on April 7, 2022 by Barry Zalma
See the full video at https://rumble.com/vzyy1l-true-crime-of-insurance-fraud-video-number-50.html?mref=6zof&mrefc=2 and at
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.
Arson for Profit Admitted
One of my investigators met with the property manager of an Insured to start the investigation of a fire claim believed to be arson. Since he was just starting his investigation with a walk through the burned-out shell the investigator was making conversation with the property manager.
“Steve, how long have you managed this property?”
“About six months.”
“It seems the fire started here on the service porch where the damage is most severe; do you know how it started?”
“Sure,” the manager replied with confidence and no sign of concern “I pulled a mattress off one of the beds, stacked up against the wall by the service porch and lit it with a Bic lighter. Once it was burning well, I left and drove four blocks away and came back in time to see the flames coming from the building. I heard sirens so I just drove home.”
“Why did you do that?” the investigator asked, incredulous and trying to stay calm.
“The owner asked me to burn the building and said he would pay me 10% of whatever he got from the insurance company. When are you going to pay him? I sure could use the money.”
The investigator of the arson case was experienced. He knew better than to accept a confession, even one given under oath. The sworn statement was only usable to defeat the claim if it could be corroborated. Without corroboration it was useless. He explained the need for corroboration to Steve.
Arson is not Excluded – It’s Just a Fire
The Insured explained that he had recently been forced to fire Steve because his work was shoddy and some of the rent Steve collected never came to the Insured. Steve had threatened to cause harm to the insured and had almost succeeded.
The insured’s claim was paid in full. Steve, whose attempt to harm his ex-employer was blatantly stupid, he faced two felony charges: (1) Arson; and/or (2) perjury. His case was evaluated for possible prosecution and the prosecutor – since he felt no one was harmed since the insured was paid – refused to prosecute.
The insurer has also authorized counsel to sue Steve to recover the money it paid to the Insured. After checking Steve’s lack of assets, a decision was made not to sue.
ZALMA OPINION
Every claims investigation requires a thorough and complete investigation. A confession, like that of Steve in this video, is not always what it seems. Corroboration was needed and when it did not exist it turned out that Steve was just trying to hurt his employer. A false denial of the claims based on Steve’s confession would have been wrong and would have exposed the insurer to a bad faith lawsuit.
(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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When Harm is Inherent in the Nature of the Act it is Intentional
Post 5237
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No Coverage for Intentional Acts
Hitting a Person in the Face is an Intentional Act
In Unitrin Auto and Home Insurance Company v. Brian C. Sullivan, et al., George A. Ciminello, No. 2022-01607, Index No. 21632/14, Supreme Court of New York, Second Department (November 19, 2025) George A. Ciminello was injured when struck in the face by a cup filled with liquid, thrown from a moving vehicle operated by Brian C. Sullivan, with Robert Harford as the passenger who threw the cup. The vehicle approached Ciminello at about 30 mph, from 2 to 10 feet away, and Harford extended his arm to make contact. The cup splintered upon impact.
Sullivan and Harford later conceded liability on the intentional tort claim before a damages trial.
Insurance Policy:
Unitrin Auto and Home...
Obtaining Title to Church by Fraud Defeated
Post 5238
Read the full article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/unmitigated-gall-abuse-elderly-bishop-his-church-zalma-esq-cfe-xcasc, see the video at and at and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5200 posts.
It is Villainous to Steal Church Property from Sick and Elderly Bishop
In Testimonial Cathedral Local Church of God in Christ v. EquityKey Real Estate Option, LLC et al. (Cal. Ct. App., 2d Dist., Div. 8, No. B331522 (Nov. 18, 2025) EquityKey (through broker Steven Sharpe and Frank Wheaton, a trusted advisor/friend of elderly Bishop Jimmy Hackworth) presented a deal supposedly for a $4 million life-insurance policy on Hackworth’s life with EquityKey as beneficiary. In exchange, EquityKey paid Hackworth $400,000 upfront.
Factual Background
To qualify Hackworth for the large policy, church real property on South Western Ave., Los Angeles was temporarily ...
Guilty of Money Laundering Scheme
Post 5238
See the video at https://lnkd.in/gqh7V46x and at https://lnkd.in/gmE-zrDC and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5200 posts.
Prison Sentence for Fraud Must be Limited to the Fraud in Which the Defendant Participated
In United States v. Stephen O. Anagor, No. 2:24-CR-00019-DCLC-CRW (E.D. Tenn., Nov. 26, 2025) by Judge Clifton L. Corker the government sought to increase the defendant’s sentence because his co-conspirators added a fraudulent FBI scam that resulted in the victim’s suicide. Anagor sought a lower sentence because he was only involved in part of the fraud.
Charges & Plea
Defendant, a U.S. Army soldier pled guilty on June 11, 2025 to Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud, Aiding and Abetting Aggravated Stalking Resulting in Death and Aiding and Abetting Aggravated Identity Theft that was part of a larger 38-count superseding indictment against Anagor and co-defendants Chinagorom Onwumere and Salma Abdalkareem for an international Nigerian-based ...
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 ...
