Zalma on Insurance
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Insurance Claims professional presents articles and videos on insurance, insurance Claims and insurance law for insurance Claims adjusters, insurance professionals and insurance lawyers who wish to improve their skills and knowledge. Presented by an internationally recognized expert and author.
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July 01, 2022
Zalma’s Insurance Fraud Letter – July 1, 2022

Zalma’s Insurance Fraud Letter – July 1, 2022
ZIFL 7-1-2022

Read the full article at https://lnkd.in/gkTM34Qb, see the video explaining what is in the July 1, 2022 issue at https://lnkd.in/gi2jdegx and at https://lnkd.in/gb2hxnF9 and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 4250 posts.

ZIFL Volume 26 Number 13

ZIFL-07-01-2022 http://zalma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/ZIFL-07-01-2022.-1.pdf.

See the video explaining what is in the July 1, 2022 issue at https://rumble.com/v1al2t7-zalmas-insurance-fraud-letter-july-1-2022.html?mref=6zof&mrefc=3 and at

In the July 1, 2022 issue of Zalma’s Insurance Fraud Letter you will be able to read the full text of articles including:
Bases for Rescission

Rescission Is an Equitable Remedy First Created in The Ecclesiastical Courts of Elizabethan England.

When the United States was conceived in 1776 the founders were concerned with protecting their rights under British common law.

Common Law is a form of law developed by judges through tribunals and decisions of courts rather than executive branch action and legislative statutes.

Following the common law tradition, legal principles were referred to courts of equity to “mitigate the rigor” of the common law.

The new United States of America adopted British common law as the law once the U.S. Constitution was adopted in 1789. British common law was only modified by the limitations placed on the central government by the Constitution.

The viability and ability to enforce contracts was recognized as essential to commerce. Courts of law, following the British Common Law, were charged with enforcing legitimate contracts and rendering money judgments against the party who breached the contract.
Another Florida Insurer Goes Broke

Southern Fidelity Insurance Company has entered into receivership and is being liquidated, according to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulations (FLOIR).
Insurance fraud is rampant in Florida.

Lawyer Admits to Insurance Fraud & Theft from Clients
Convicted of Fraud & Theft Enough for Disbarment

On September 7, 2021, the Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC) requested this Court place Respondent Richard Alexander Murdaugh on interim suspension based upon information indicating Respondent had stolen funds from the law firm that employed him. Respondent consented to the relief and on September 8, 2021, the Supreme Court issued an order suspending Respondent from the practice of law. In re Murdaugh, 434 S.C. 233, 863 S.E.2d 335 (2021) and, in In the Matter of Richard Alexander Murdaugh, Supreme Court of South Carolina, June 16, 2022 the Supreme Court was faced with the obligation to render a final order re Murdaugh’s license to practice law.
Chutzpah: Murder for Insurance Money Life Sentences Affirmed

INSURANCE FRAUD IS A VIOLENT CRIME

When convicted of murder in the first degree and conspiracy to commit murder for life insurance money, the defendants require a great deal of chutzpah (unmitigated gall) to file multiple appeals to reduce or eliminate the life without parole sentences. In the latest effort, The People v. Leny Peterson Galafate, F081563, California Court of Appeals, Fifth District (June 9, 2022) the Court of Appeal wrote a detailed opinion discussing all of the arguments filed by the murderer expending more time and paper than a convicted murder who had already appealed unsuccessfully to different courts that was not deserved.
Good News From the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud
Health Insurance Fraud Convictions
Molina Healthcare Agrees to Pay Over $4.5 Million To Resolve False Claims Act Violations

Molina Healthcare, Inc. (Molina) and its previously owned subsidiary, Pathways of Massachusetts (Pathways), have agreed to pay $4.625 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting reimbursement claims while violating several regulations related to the licensure and supervision of staff.

Molina is a managed care health services company that provides health care plans to various state and federal health care programs including MassHealth, the joint federal and state Medicaid program. Between November 2015 and March 2018, Molina owned and operated Pathways, a group of mental health centers located in Springfield and Worcester. During that period, the government contends that Molina and Pathways improperly submitted claims for reimbursement to MassHealth and care entities managed by MassHealth while failing to properly license and supervise mental health center staff, including social workers and psychological associates, and failing to provide and timely document the provision of adequate clinical supervision to clinicians requiring supervision.

Excellence in Claims Handling
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Become a Professional Claims Handler

In search of profit, insurers have decimated their professional claims staff. They laid off experienced personnel and replaced them with young, untrained, unprepared people. A virtual clerk replaced the old professional claims handler. Process and computers replaced hands-on human skill, empathy and judgment. Money was saved by paying lower salaries. Within three months of firing the experienced claims people gross profit increased.
Other Insurance Fraud Convictions

Ex-Surrey Banker Faked Cancer as Part Of £1.8m Fraud

Rajesh Ghedia, 42, said he would be dead in a year in a £1.2m insurance scam, Southwark Crown Court heard. He also swindled seven people – including a relative – out of huge sums of money by encouraging them to invest in non-existent financial products.

(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].

Subscribe and receive videos limited to subscribers of Excellence in Claims Handling at locals.com https://zalmaoninsurance.locals.com/subscribe.

Subscribe to Excellence in Claims Handling at https://barryzalma.substack.com/welcome.

See the last two issues of ZIFL at https://zalma.com/zalmas-insurance-fraud-letter-2/

Write to Mr. Zalma at [email protected]; http://www.zalma.com; http://zalma.com/blog; daily articles are published at https://zalma.substack.com.

Go to the podcast Zalma On Insurance at https://anchor.fm/barry-zalma; Follow Mr. Zalma on Twitter at https://twitter.com/bzalma; Go to Barry Zalma videos at Rumble.com at https://rumble.com/c/c-262921; Go to Barry Zalma on YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCysiZklEtxZsSF9DfC0Expg; Go to the Insurance Claims Library – https://zalma.com/blog/insurance-claims-library/

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8 hours ago
Broker's Failure to Obtain Insurance Ordered Causes Litigation

New Trial Because Jury Used Policy That Provides No Coverage to Assess Damages

Post 5255

Read the full article at https://lnkd.in/drG3xH2R, see the video at https://lnkd.in/d6p8e-9p and at https://lnkd.in/dgPsQ3Sn, and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5250 posts.

In Brown & Brown of Florida, Inc. v. Houligan’s Pub & Club, Inc., and Ormond Wine Company, LLC, Nos. 5D2024-2352, 5D2024-2458, Florida Court of Appeals (January 2, 2026) the Court of Appeals was faced with a case of first impression that involved damages from a hurricane that hit the East Coast of Florida almost a decade ago and the extent to which an insurance broker is responsible for paying for such damages.

The jury entered a verdict in favor of the insurance broker on the insured’s claim that it was negligent in failing to procure insurance, but it found in favor of the insured on claims of breach of fiduciary duty and negligent misrepresentation.

The insurance broker does not contest it breached its duties on these two claims, only ...

00:08:01
January 06, 2026
Insurance Agent Has No Right to Keep Insurer’s Money

Agent Loses License for Misappropriating Insurers Funds
Post 5254

See the video at https://lnkd.in/gPpkx-np and at https://lnkd.in/g7AidnXS, and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5250 posts.

Insurance Agent Fraud Fails

In Rochell Provost v. State Of Louisiana Division Of Administrative Law And Louisiana Department Of Insurance, No. 2025 CA 0492, Court of Appeals of Louisiana, First Circuit (December 19, 2025) the Louisiana Department of Insurance (LDI) successfully appealed a district court judgment that reinstated Rochell Provost’s insurance producer license and reversed a $5,000 fine previously assessed against her.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND

The underlying dispute began when Union National Life Insurance Company/Kemper Life terminated Ms. Provost for cause, alleging she had committed fraudulent activity and misappropriated $31,471.39 in company funds. An investigative report supporting these findings was sent to LDI.

Following receipt of the report, LDI notified Ms. Provost of proposed regulatory action concerning ...

00:09:20
January 05, 2026
Guilty of Taking Home Property to Assist Insurance Fraud

Post 5254

Read the full article at https://lnkd.in/gqva4sJq, see the video at https://lnkd.in/gR7AAuJR and at https://lnkd.in/gYfDxq_D, and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5250 posts.

Help a Person Commit Insurance Fraud & Go to Jail

Guilty of Tampering With Evidence by Hiding it in Garage

In State Of Montana v. Lila Lynn Lord, 2025 MT 302, No. DA 24-0343, Supreme Court of Montana (December 30, 2025) Lila Lord (Lord) appealed her conviction for Tampering with Evidence following a jury trial in the Seventh Judicial District Court, Richland County. The case centered on a staged burglary in Sidney, Montana, orchestrated by Marie Chris Entzel with the intent to collect insurance proceeds to cover her son’s legal fees. Entzel recruited several individuals — including David Skaw, Lawrence Pohl, Laurie McGregor, and the defendant, Lila Lord — to assist in removing valuable items from her home, causing property damage and theft of items such as an enclosed trailer, boat and trailer, refrigerator, pistol, and television....

00:07:11
December 31, 2025
“Sudden” is the Opposite of “Gradual”

Court Must Follow Judicial Precedent
Post 5252

Read the full article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/sudden-opposite-gradual-barry-zalma-esq-cfe-h7qmc, see the video at and at and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5250 posts.

Insurance Policy Interpretation Requires Application of the Judicial Construction Doctrine

In Montrose Chemical Corporation Of California v. The Superior Court Of Los Angeles County, Canadian Universal Insurance Company, Inc., et al., B335073, Court of Appeal, 337 Cal.Rptr.3d 222 (9/30/2025) the Court of Appeal refused to allow extrinsic evidence to interpret the word “sudden” in qualified pollution exclusions (QPEs) as including gradual but unexpected pollution. The court held that, under controlling California appellate precedent, the term “sudden” in these standard-form exclusions unambiguously includes a temporal element (abruptness) and cannot reasonably be construed to mean ...

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December 29, 2025
Doctor Accused of Insurance Fraud Sues Insurer Who Accused Him

Lack of Jurisdiction Defeats Suit for Defamation

Post 5250

Posted on December 29, 2025 by Barry Zalma

See the video at and at

He Who Represents Himself in a Lawsuit has a Fool for a Client

In Pankaj Merchia v. United Healthcare Services, Inc., Civil Action No. 24-2700 (RC), United States District Court, District of Columbia (December 22, 2025)

FACTUAL BACKGROUND
Parties & Claims:

The plaintiff, Pankaj Merchia, is a physician, scientist, engineer, and entrepreneur, proceeding pro se. Merchia sued United Healthcare Services, Inc., a Minnesota-based medical insurance company, for defamation and related claims. The core allegation is that United Healthcare falsely accused Merchia of healthcare fraud, which led to his indictment and arrest in Massachusetts, causing reputational and business harm in the District of Columbia and nationwide.

Underlying Events:

The alleged defamation occurred when United ...

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December 15, 2025
Zalma’s Insurance Fraud Letter – December 15, 2025

Zalma’s Insurance Fraud Letter

Read the full article at https://lnkd.in/dG829BF6; see the video at https://lnkd.in/dyCggZMZ and at https://lnkd.in/d6a9QdDd.

ZIFL Volume 29, Issue 24

Subscribe to the e-mail Version of ZIFL, it’s Free! https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001Gb86hroKqEYVdo-PWnMUkcitKvwMc3HNWiyrn6jw8ERzpnmgU_oNjTrm1U1YGZ7_ay4AZ7_mCLQBKsXokYWFyD_Xo_zMFYUMovVTCgTAs7liC1eR4LsDBrk2zBNDMBPp7Bq0VeAA-SNvk6xgrgl8dNR0BjCMTm_gE7bAycDEHwRXFAoyVjSABkXPPaG2Jb3SEvkeZXRXPDs%3D

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 ...

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