ZIFL – Volume 26, Issue 15
Zalma’s Insurance Fraud Letter – August 1, 2022
Read the full article at https://lnkd.in/gU9w-nG4 and at https://lnkd.in/ggfYMGmz and at https://zalma.com/blog; and video at https://lnkd.in/gmutXXAR and at .
Posted on July 30, 2022 by Barry Zalma
Read the full 22 page Adobe .pdf Newsletter at http://zalma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ZIFL-08-01-2022.pdf
See the full video at
and at https://rumble.com/v1e5zqf-zalmas-insurance-fraud-letter-august-1-2022.html
Read the full 22 page Adobe .pdf Newsletter at http://zalma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ZIFL-08-01-2022.pdf
See the full video at
and at https://rumble.com/v1e5zqf-zalmas-insurance-fraud-letter-august-1-2022.html
Articles include:
“The Need to Understand the Mutability of Memory When Investigating a Fraud”
Very few people have a perfect eidetic (photographic) memory. Memory is a fluid and often unreliable human function.
During my time as a trainee investigator at the Army Intelligence School at Fort Holabird, Maryland, a classroom lecture on interviewing was interrupted by a man dressed in a clown mask, a tuxedo, swim fins, a cowboy hat, and a purple cummerbund. He ran into the room, screamed epithets, fired a weapon into the ceiling, and ran out. The teacher instructed each member of the class to write down a description of the intruder. None of our descriptions was accurate, and we were all shocked when the shooter was brought back into the class. The noise he made, the firing of a weapon, and the fear the incident engendered made it almost impossible to recall him accurately. Some even described him as having been female.
The professional recognizes that some EUO techniques can cause honest subjects — those who are innocent but “just trying to be helpful” — to “misremember” and provide unreliable, even false, information. It has long been known that false memories can be implanted by a process of suggestion, especially when used by skillful but unscrupulous attorneys or interviewers.
California Claims Regulations
Insurers licensed or operating in California must file their SIU annual reports by Wednesday, Sept. 28 and Insurers licensed or operating in California must ascertain that their entire claims staff has read, understood or be trained about the California Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations by September 1 of Each Year and be ready to swear under oath that the Regulation has been complied with by the insurer.
Insurance Agent Should not Sell Unregistered Securities
Unregistered Security Exclusion Eliminates Duty to Defend or Indemnify
William Saoud sells insurance-related products. Beginning in 2017, he offered some of his clients a new financial instrument: a Memorandum of Indebtedness issued by 1 Global Capital, LLC. The investment opportunity was too good to be true. William Saoud, Patricia Boland- Saoud, and Bill Saoud Financial, LLC v. Everest Indemnity Insurance Company, No. 21-1621, United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit (July 14, 2022)
Free Insurance Videos
Barry Zalma, Esq., CFE has published five days a week videos on insurance claims, insurance claims law, insurance fraud and insurance coverage matters at https://www.rumble.com/zalma.https://rumble.com/c/c-262921
Intending Harm Caused is not Insurable
State Farm Fire and Casualty Company filed a motion for summary judgment, arguing that it owed no duty to defend or indemnify defendants, Hamdallah, L.L.C., et al. (“the LLCs”), against the claims asserted by plaintiff, Nixon Calix. The trial court granted for summary judgment and dismissed all claims against State Farm with prejudice.
In Nixon R. Calix v. Ideal Market # 6, Hamdallah, L.L.C., Kaki and Son, LLC, Hamdallah Hasan “Mario” Kaki, Muwafak “Mike” Kaki, Monadel “Cory” Elbarqa, Nofal “George” Haifa John Does 1-4, El Cortez Foods, LLC, And ABC & XYZ Insurance Company, No. 21-CA-555, Court of Appeals of Louisiana, Fifth Circuit (July 13, 2022) explained the right to rely on a clear and unambiguous exclusion.
Good News From The Coalition Against Insurance Fraud
For example: Dr. Jose Santeiro lured patients for medically unneeded rehab in a $112M fleecing of private insurers in South Florida. Recruiters paid kickbacks to con addicted patients into attending Santeiro’s detox facilities, then plied them with illegal drugs to ensure they were admitted. Santeiro made false claims for excessive urinalysis drug tests that weren’t even used in treatment. Santeiro then readmitted a core group of addicted patients he shuffled between Compass Detox and another facility to fraudulently bill for as much bogus drug treatment as possible. Santeiro also prescribed Compass Detox patients an addictive “comfort drink” to sedate them so they’d stay at the facility and keep returning. And he let cohorts use his log-in at the detox facilities to sign electronic medical files to make it falsely appear he provided treatment. Santeiro was given 4 1/2 years in federal prison.
Convicted of Wire & Insurance Fraud
After being convicted of multiple counts of fraud Ejaz Shreef was sentenced to a term of imprisonment for 48 months on each count, concurrent, followed by two years of supervised release.
In Ejaz Shreef v. United States of America, Nos. 3:18-cr-157-RJC-DCK-2, 3:22-cv-78-RJC, United States District Court, W.D. North Carolina, Charlotte Division (July 8, 2022) resolved his motion to reduce his sentence in favor of the government.
Health Insurance Fraud Convictions
Including a story why a Jury Convicts Man of $600 Million Health Care Fraud, Wire Fraud, and ID Theft Scheme. Mathew James, 54, of East Northport, was convicted by a federal jury. James, a New York man was convicted over $600 million health care fraud, wire fraud, and identity theft scheme.
Zalma on Insurance at Locals.com
Create a Staff of Professional Claims Handlers
Click Here to Subscribe to the Excellence in Claims Handling Programs for Each of Your Claims Personnel for Only $5 A Month Or $50 A Year by Subscribing to Zalma on Insurance at Locals.
Barry Zalma has created at Locals.com a series of insurance educational materials most of which are free to anyone. The free materials include more than 441 videos and more than 4200 digests of recent appellate court opinions and more than 81 videos dealing with true crime stories of insurance fraud.
Another Complaint Surfaces on Strems Over Settlement & Fee Deal
Scot Strems, the pain in the bank accounts of Florida insurers could see his two-year suspension completed in July 2022. But allegations by the state Bar could result in new sanctions or even a permanent disbarment.
A 25-page complaint, separate from previous allegations, charges that Miami attorney Strems and his law firm, in 2018 informed a client of a settlement with a property insurance company but then secretly settled with the insurer for twice as much and attempted to pocket a large, unauthorized fee.
In Addition, Another Strems Law Firm Attorney Suspended by Florida Supreme Court
Fallout from the infamous Strems Law Firm’s litigation practices in Florida continues. Two years after Coral Gables plaintiffs’ attorney Scot Strems was suspended from practice for filing thousands of unnecessary lawsuits against property insurers and violating other Bar rules, and two years after the Florida Bar filed a complaint against another attorney with the firm, the state Supreme Court has suspended the lawyer for 91 days.
Other Insurance Fraud Convictions
Insurance Fraud is a Violent Crime – Two Guilty in Sweetie Pie’s Murder-For-Hire Plot
For example: Terica Ellis and Waiel Rebhi Yaghnam charged with the murder-for-hire plot that led to the death of Andre Montgomery in 2016 pleaded guilty July 22, 2022.
In 2020, the two were charged with conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud. Yaghnam was charged with five counts of aggravated identify theft. Montgomery, the grandson of original Sweetie Pie’s owner Robbie Montgomery, was shot and killed near Fairground Park on March 14, 2016. James Timothy Norman, Montgomery’s uncle, has been charged with conspiracy to use a cellphone in the “commission” of a murder-for-hire that resulted in death. Charging documents revealed that Norman took out a $450,000 life insurance policy on his nephew in 2014 and Norman was the sole beneficiary.
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 also serves as an arbitrator or mediator for insurance related disputes. 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].
Over the last 54 years Barry Zalma has dedicated his life to insurance, insurance claims and the need to defeat insurance fraud. He has created the following library of books and other materials to make it possible for insurers and their claims staff to become insurance claims professionals.
Barry Zalma, Inc., 4441 Sepulveda Boulevard, CULVER CITY CA 90230-4847, 310-390-4455;
Subscribe to Zalma on Insurance at locals.com https://zalmaoninsurance.local.com/subscribe. Subscribe to Excellence in Claims Handling at https://barryzalma.substack.com/welcome. Write to Mr. Zalma at [email protected]; http://www.zalma.com; http://zalma.com/blog; I publish daily articles 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
Convicted Criminal Seeks to Compel Receiver to Protect his Assets
Post number 5291
See the video at and at and at https://www.zalma.com/blog plus more than 5250 posts.
The Work of a Court Appointed Receiver is Constitutionally Protected
In Simon Semaan et al. v. Robert P. Mosier et al., G064385, California Court of Appeals, Fourth District, Third Division (February 6, 2026) the Court of Appeals applied the California anti-SLAPP statute which protects defendants from meritless lawsuits arising from constitutionally protected activities, including those performed in official capacities. The court also considered the doctrine of quasi-judicial immunity, which shields court-appointed receivers from liability for discretionary acts performed within their official duties.
Facts
In September 2021, the State of California filed felony charges against Simon Semaan, alleging violations of Insurance Code section 11760(a) for making...
When There are Two Different Other Insurance Clauses They Eliminate Each Other and Both Insurers Owe Indemnity Equally
Post number 5289
In Great West Casualty Co. v. Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance Co., and Conserv FS, Inc., and Timothy A. Brennan, as Administrator of the Estate of Pat- rick J. Brennan, deceased, Nos. 24-1258, 24-1259, United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit (February 11, 2026) the USCA was required to resolve a dispute that arose when a tractor-trailer operated by Robert D. Fisher (agent of Deerpass Farms Trucking, LLC-II) was involved in a side-impact collision with an SUV driven by Patrick J. Brennan, resulting in Brennan’s death.
Facts
Deerpass Trucking, an interstate motor carrier, leased the tractor from Deerpass Farms Services, LLC, and hauled cargo for Conserv FS, Inc. under a trailer interchange agreement. The tractor was insured by Great West Casualty Company with a $1 million policy limit, while the trailer was insured by Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance Company with a $2 million ...
Opiod Producer Seeks Indemnity from CGL Insurers
Post number 5288
Read the full article at https://lnkd.in/guNhStN2, see the full video at https://lnkd.in/gYqkk-n3 and at https://lnkd.in/g8U3ehuc, and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5250 posts.
Insurers Exclude Damages Due to Insured’s Products
In Matthew Dundon, As The Trustee Of The Endo General Unsecured Creditors’ Trust v. ACE Property And Casualty Insurance Company, et al., Civil Action No. 24-4221, United States District Court, E.D. Pennsylvania (February 10, 2026) Matthew Dundon, trustee of the Endo General Unsecured Creditors’ Trust, sued multiple commercial general liability (CGL) insurers for coverage of opioid-related litigation involving Endo International PLC a pharmaceutical manufacturer.
KEY FACTS
Beginning as early as 2014, thousands of opioid suits were filed by governments, third parties, and individuals alleging harms tied to opioid manufacturing and marketing.
Bankruptcy & Settlements
Endo filed Chapter 11 in August 2022; before bankruptcy it ...
Passover for Americans
Posted on February 19, 2026 by Barry Zalma
“The Passover Seder For Americans”
For more than 3,000 years Jewish fathers have told the story of the Exodus of the enslaved Jews from Egypt. Telling the story has been required of all Jewish fathers. Americans, who have lived in North America for more than 300 years have become Americans and many have lost the ability to read, write and understand the Hebrew language in which the story of Passover was first told in the Torah. Passover is one of the many holidays Jewish People celebrate to help them remember the importance of G_d in their lives. We see the animals, the oceans, the rivers, the mountains, the rain, sun, the planets, the stars, and the people and wonder how did all these wonderful things come into being. Jews believe the force we call G_d created the entire universe and everything in it. Jews feel G_d is all seeing and knowing and although we can’t see Him, He is everywhere and in everyone.We understand...
Passover for Americans
Posted on February 19, 2026 by Barry Zalma
Read the full article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/passover-americans-barry-zalma-esq-cfe-5vgkc.
“The Passover Seder For Americans”
For more than 3,000 years Jewish fathers have told the story of the Exodus of the enslaved Jews from Egypt. Telling the story has been required of all Jewish fathers. Americans, who have lived in North America for more than 300 years have become Americans and many have lostthe ability to read, write and understand the Hebrew language in which the story of Passover was first told in the Torah.
Passover is one of the many holidays Jewish People celebrate to help them remember the importance of G_d in their lives. We see the animals, the oceans, the rivers, the mountains, the rain, sun, the planets, the stars, and the people and ...
You Get What You Pay For – Less Coverage Means Lower Premium
Post number 5275
Posted on January 30, 2026 by Barry Zalma
See the video at and at
When Experts for Both Sides Agree That Two Causes Concur to Cause a Wall to Collapse Exclusion Applies
In Lido Hospitality, Inc. v. AIX Specialty Insurance Company, No. 1-24-1465, 2026 IL App (1st) 241465-U, Court of Appeals of Illinois (January 27, 2026) resolved the effect of an anti-concurrent cause exclusion to a loss with more than one cause.
Facts and Background
Lido Hospitality, Inc. operates the Lido Motel in Franklin Park, Illinois. In November 2020, a windstorm caused one of the motel’s brick veneer walls to collapse. At the time, Lido was insured under a policy issued by AIX Specialty Insurance Company which provided coverage for windstorm damage. However, the policy contained an exclusion for any loss or damage directly or indirectly resulting from ...
