Pennsylvania Requires Court to Announce a Convicted Defendant’s Recidivism Risk Reduction Incentive
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Posted on June 2, 2022 by Barry Zalma
Claire A. Risoldi, in a second try appealed from the Judgment of Sentence, entered after remand for resentencing on the restitution portion of her sentence. Risoldi challenged the legality of her sentence. In Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania v. Claire A. Risoldi, 2022 PA Super 94, No. 1382 EDA 2021, J-A07001-22, Superior Court of Pennsylvania (May 24, 2022) Risoldi’s second appeal requires a finding from the trial court of whether she was entitled to a finding of a recidivism risk reduction incentive (RRRI) finding.
FACTS
On February 5, 2019, a jury convicted Risoldi of various offenses related to her participation in an insurance fraud scheme. On May 17, 2019, the court sentenced Risoldi to an aggregate term of 11½ to 23 months’ incarceration and over $10 million in restitution. On review, this Court vacated the restitution portion of Risoldi’s sentence, remanded for resentencing solely on that issue, and affirmed all other aspects of Risoldi’s sentence. [Commonwealth v. Risoldi, 238 A.3d 434, 465 (Pa. Super. 2020)] The Pennsylvania Supreme Court denied allowance of a further appeal [Commonwealth v. Risoldi, 244 A.3d 1230 (Pa. 2021)].
On June 25, 2021, the court resentenced Risoldi only on the restitution portion of her sentence. At no point in Risoldi’s initial sentencing or resentencing did the court state whether Risoldi is eligible to participate in a reentry plan. Risoldi timely filed a Notice of Appeal and both she and the trial court complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925.
Risoldi argued only that the sentencing court imposed an illegal sentence on May 17, 2019, and reimposed an illegal sentence on June 25, 2021, because it did not determine her reentry plan eligibility on the record as required by the Sentencing Code.
The court reviewed the implications of a sentencing court’s failure to state on the record if a defendant is eligible for RRRI minimum sentence under a different subsection of the same statute which states, in relevant part, that “[t]he court shall determine if the defendant is eligible for a recidivism risk reduction incentive minimum sentence[.]” 42 Pa.C.S. § 9756(b.1) (emphasis added).
ANALYSIS
The Appellate Court concluded that the legislature’s use of the term “shall” in the statute a sentencing court’s failure to determine on the record if a defendant is RRRI eligible results in the imposition of an illegal sentence. The legislature’s use of the term “shall” confers on the sentencing court the requirement that it determine a defendant’s RRRI eligibility at sentencing, and failure to do so results in the imposition of an illegal sentence.
In the instant case, the trial court did not state on the record at sentencing if Risoldi is eligible to participate in a reentry plan. That aspect of Risoldi’s sentence is, therefore, illegal and subject to correction. The appellate court remanded solely for the sentencing court to determine Risoldi’s eligibility to participate in a reentry plan pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. § 9756(b)(3).
ZALMA OPINION
It amazes me how many times a person convicted of insurance fraud is able to appeal the sentence imposed. In this case the trial court failed to do what it was required to do and the appellate court sent it back for a re-sentence regarding RRRI. Hopefully the trial court will find she is not eligible.
(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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Insurer’s Exclusion for Claims of Assault & Battery is Effective
Post 5250
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Bar Fight With Security is an Excluded Assault & Battery
In The Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters Insurance Company v. Mainline Private Security, LLC, et al., Civil Action No. 24-3871, United States District Court, E.D. Pennsylvania (December 16, 2025) two violent attacks occurred in Philadelphia involving young men, Eric Pope (who died) and Rishabh Abhyankar (who suffered catastrophic injuries). Both incidents involved security guards provided by Mainline Private Security, LLC (“Mainline”) at local bars. The estates of the victims sued the attackers, the bars, and Mainline for negligence and assault/battery. The insurer exhausted a special limit and then denied defense or indemnity to Mainline Private Security.
INSURANCE COVERAGE
Mainline had purchased a commercial ...
Marine Insurer May Dispose of Vessel to Avoid Waste
Post 5249
Read the full article at https://lnkd.in/gfn_UHdp, see the video at https://lnkd.in/gDWVccnr and at https://lnkd.in/gv9nsBqk, and https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5200 posts.
In Western World Insurance Company v. The Estate Of Shawn Arsenault, No. 25-cv-13413-PGL, United States District Court, D. Massachusetts (December 17, 2025) the USDC was asked to resolve a marine insurance dispute after the sinking of the F/V Seahorse, a commercial fishing vessel, off Cape Cod on June 8, 2025. The vessel’s owner and operator, Shawn Arsenault, died in the incident.
Western World Insurance Company issued a hull insurance policy for the vessel. With no personal representative yet appointed for the estate, the insurer cannot determine the proper payee for the insurance proceeds.
The insurer paid for the vessel’s recovery and removal, and the vessel is now with a salvage company, incurring substantial storage fees. The insurer determined the loss is covered under the ...
Marine Insurer May Dispose of Vessel to Avoid Waste
Post 5249
Read the full article at https://lnkd.in/gfn_UHdp, see the video at https://lnkd.in/gDWVccnr and at https://lnkd.in/gv9nsBqk, and https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5200 posts.
In Western World Insurance Company v. The Estate Of Shawn Arsenault, No. 25-cv-13413-PGL, United States District Court, D. Massachusetts (December 17, 2025) the USDC was asked to resolve a marine insurance dispute after the sinking of the F/V Seahorse, a commercial fishing vessel, off Cape Cod on June 8, 2025. The vessel’s owner and operator, Shawn Arsenault, died in the incident.
Western World Insurance Company issued a hull insurance policy for the vessel. With no personal representative yet appointed for the estate, the insurer cannot determine the proper payee for the insurance proceeds.
The insurer paid for the vessel’s recovery and removal, and the vessel is now with a salvage company, incurring substantial storage fees. The insurer determined the loss is covered under the ...
Zalma’s Insurance Fraud Letter
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ZIFL Volume 29, Issue 24
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Zalma’s Insurance Fraud Letter (ZIFL) continues its 29th year of publication dedicated to those involved in reducing the effect of insurance fraud. ZIFL is published 24 times a year by ClaimSchool and is written by Barry Zalma. It is provided FREE to anyone who visits the site at http://zalma.com/zalmas-insurance-fraud-letter-2/
Zalma’s Insurance Fraud Letter
Merry Christmas & Happy Hannukah
Read the following Articles from the December 15, 2025 issue:
Read the full 19 page issue of ZIFL at ...
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 ...
