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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September 01, 2022
Zalma’s Insurance Fraud Letter – September 1, 2022

ZIFL - Volume 26, Issue 17 – September 1, 2022

Posted on September 1, 2022 by Barry Zalma

The issue, available as a 25 page .pdf document here ZIFL-09-01-2022

See the full video at https://rumble.com/v1i44c7-zalmas-insurance-fraud-letter-september-1-2022.html and at

The issue includes articles including:
Public Adjuster Firm Accused of Pocketing $600,000 in Insurer Payouts in 2 States

Andrew Joseph Mitchell, according to the Texas Department of Insurance, who reported that a public adjusting firm that was sanctioned last month by Louisiana regulators has pocketed more than $300,000 in insurer payouts intended for Texas property owners.
Michigan Allows Fraudster to Receive PIP Benefits but no UM/UIM Benefits

Plaintiff appealed the trial court’s order granting summary disposition in favor of defendants Home-Owners Insurance Company (“Home-Owners”), American Country Insurance Company (ACIC), and Hartford Accident and Indemnity Company (“Hartford”), with respect to plaintiff’s claims for uninsured or underinsured motorist benefits and first-party personal protection insurance (PIP) benefits under the no-fault act, MCL 500.3101 et seq. Although defendants disputed their priority to pay PIP benefits, the trial court did not decide the priority issue, but instead dismissed all claims on the basis of antifraud provisions in defendants’ respective policies.

In Jonathan Jones v. Home-Owners Insurance Company, American Country Insurance Company, And Hartford Accident & Indemnity Company, and Sharneta Henderson, No. 355118, Court of Appeals of Michigan (August 18, 2022) the Court of Appeal produced a Solomon-like decision.
The Law Applies to Thee but not to Me – Insurance Fraud Pays in New York

Oneatha Swinton, the former acting principal of Port Richmond High school in Staten Island, New York, convicted of car insurance fraud kept her employment with the New York Department of Education – and even got a raise – despite what school investigators called her “pattern of dishonesty.”

The DOE gave Swinton, a deal to stay on despite the criminal conviction plus findings that she improperly funneled $100,000 in school funds to a vendor, and “failed to safeguard” 600 DOE computers, printers and laptops which vanished under her watch.
California Claims Regulations

Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations 2022

If You Haven’t Complied by Today You are in Violation

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.
Before Electing to Rescind
Bases for Rescission

The primary bases for rescission are:

misrepresentation or material fact(s),

concealment of material fact(s),

mistake of material fact(s),

mistake of law, or

fraud.

New York StateWide Senior Action Council Announces It’s Medicare Fraud of the Month
Telemedicine Fraud.

“Telemedicine Fraud, often called Telehealth Fraud is a growing trend in Medicare. The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges for how patients accessed health care with the need for social isolation leading to an explosion in remote Telemedicine care,” stated Maria Alvarez, Executive Director of StateWide in announcing this month’s Medicare Fraud of the Month.

The StateWide Fraud of the Month is a component of the Senior Medical Patrol, the definitive resource for New York State’s senior citizens and caregivers to help detect, prevent, and report Medicare fraud and waste. StateWide is New York’s grantee/administrator for this Federal Program.
Good News From the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud

Ricky Gonzales ran Ricky’s Construction Company, which supplied construction labor for contractors. The Tampa, Fla.-area man lied he paid workers’ compensation for the laborers he provided — who were undocumented immigrants. The contractors then sent Gonzales what they thought were payroll checks. Gonzales cashed the checks at banks to pay the workers. Gonzales lied that employees had full worker’s comp. In truth, he received and cashed more than $7M of checks from construction contractors for his employees. That far exceeded the limited payroll that Gonzales reported to his comp insurer. His employees thus worked at job sites without adequate insurance coverage. The insurers lost premiums they would’ve charged had they known the true number of workers their policies were being manipulated to cover. Gonzalez also illegally avoided state and federal payroll taxes. He pled federally guilty and faces up to 25 years in prison when sentenced.

And many more convictions.
Health Insurance Fraud Convictions
South Bay Chiropractor Sentenced to Prison for Receiving Kickbacks

A Redondo Beach chiropractor was sentenced to 14 months in prison for soliciting kickbacks from other hospitals. (Shutterstock)

Brian Carrico, 68, of Redondo Beach, was sentenced August 26, 2022 to 14 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Josephine L. Staton, who also ordered him to pay a fine of $25,000.

The South Bay chiropractor was sentenced for taking kickbacks from Pacific Hospital — a medical center in Long Beach whose then-owner was later imprisoned — and for soliciting kickbacks from another Southern California hospital. Carrico pleaded guilty in February to one count of soliciting kickbacks — the same day his two Redondo Beach-based companies, Performance Medical & Rehab Center Inc. and One Accord Management Inc. — each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to solicit kickbacks.

And dozens more convictions.
Zalma on Insurance at Locals.com
Excellence in Claims Handling
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Florida Sting Operation Busted 13 Contractors Without Workers’ Comp

In an attempt to save the few remaining insurers doing business in Florida, the state has taken aim at unlicensed contractors who some claim have increased the cost of repair to property in Florida.
Other Insurance Fraud Convictions
Florida Staffing Firm Head Sentenced to 24 Years for Off-Book Labor Scheme

Mykhaylo Chugay from 2007 to 2021 according to federal prosecutors said, operated a number of shady staffing companies in south Florida that avoided paying more than $25 million in federal taxes. Last week, a federal judge sentenced Chugay to 24 years in prison for his June conviction on crimes that included fraud, harboring illegal aliens and money laundering, according to prosecutors and news reports. Plus many more convictions.
Insurance Fraud in the U.K.
On August 25, 20200 the Association of British Insurers and the Insurance Fraud Bureau Announced:

The number and cost of fraudulent claims fell in 2021, but the average scam uncovered at a record level of over £12,000.

Motor insurance claim fraud still the most common insurance con.

Barry Zalma, Esq., CFE

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 athttps://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

00:13:31
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What else you may like…
Videos
Posts
September 26, 2025
No Way Out After Murder Conviction

Intentionally Shooting a Woman With A Rifle is Murder

Post 5196

See the full video at and at and at https://zalma.com/blog and more than 5150 posts.

You Plead Guilty You Must Accept the Sentence

In Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania v. Mark D. Redfield, No. 20 WDA 2025, No. J-S24010-25, Superior Court of Pennsylvania (September 19, 2025) the appellate court reviewed the case of Mark D. Redfield, who pleaded guilty to third-degree murder for killing April Dunkle with malice using a rifle.

Affirmation of Sentence:

The sentencing court’s judgment was affirmed, and jurisdiction was relinquished, concluding no abuse of discretion occurred.

Reasonable Inference on Trigger Pulling:

The sentencing court reasonably inferred from the guilty plea facts that the appellant pulled the trigger causing the victim’s death, an inference supported by the record and consistent with the plea.

Guilty Plea Facts:

The appellant admitted during the plea hearing...

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September 25, 2025
Prelitigation Communications Privileged

The Judicial Proceedings Privilege
Post 5196

Posted on September 25, 2025 by Barry Zalma

See the full video at and at

Judicial Proceeding Privilege Limits Litigation

In David Camp, and Laura Beth Waller v. Professional Employee Services, d/b/a Insurance Branch, and Brendan Cassity, CIVIL No. 24-3568 (RJL), United States District Court, District of Columbia (September 22, 2025) a defamation lawsuit filed by David Camp and Laura Beth Waller against Insurance Branch and Brendon Cassity alleging libel based on statements made in a letter accusing them of mishandling funds and demanding refunds and investigations.

The court examined whether the judicial proceedings privilege applieD to bar the defamation claims.

Case background:

Plaintiffs Camp and Waller, executives of NOSSCR and its Foundation, sued defendants Insurance Branch and Cassity over a letter alleging financial misconduct and demanding refunds and audits. The letter ...

00:07:56
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September 24, 2025
Untrue Application for Insurance Voids Policy

Misrepresentation or Concealment of a Material Fact Supports Rescission

Post 5195

Don’t Lie to Your Insurance Company

See the full video at and at https://rumble.com/v6zefq8-untrue-application-for-insurance-voids-policy.html and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5150 posts.

In Imani Page v. Progressive Marathon Insurance Company, No. 370765, Court of Appeals of Michigan (September 22, 2025) because defendant successfully established fraud in the procurement, and requested rescission, the Court of Appeals concluded that the Defendant was entitled to rescind the policy and declare it void ab initio.

FACTS

Plaintiff's Application:

Plaintiff applied for an insurance policy with the defendant, indicating that the primary use of her SUV would be for "Pleasure/Personal" purposes.

Misrepresentation:

Plaintiff misrepresented that she would not use the SUV for food delivery, but records show she was compensated for delivering food.

Accident:

Plaintiff's SUV was involved in an accident on August ...

00:07:48
September 09, 2025
The Dishonest Chiropractor/Physician

How a Need for Profit Led Health Care Providers to Crime
Post 5185
Posted on September 8, 2025 by Barry Zalma

See the full video at https://lnkd.in/gePN7rjm and at https://lnkd.in/gzPwr-9q

This is a Fictionalized True Crime Story of Insurance Fraud from an Expert who explains why Insurance Fraud is a “Heads I Win, Tails You Lose” situation for Insurers.

The Dishonest Chiropractor/Physician

How a Need for Profit Led Health Care Providers to Crime

See the full video at and at

This is a Fictionalized True Crime Story of Insurance Fraud from an Expert who explains why Insurance Fraud is a “Heads I Win, Tails You Lose” situation for Insurers. The story is designed to help to Understand How Insurance Fraud in America is Costing Everyone who Buys Insurance Thousands of Dollars Every year and Why Insurance Fraud is Safer and More Profitable for the ­­­Perpetrators than any Other Crime.

How Elderly Doctors Fund their ...

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September 08, 2025
The Dishonest Chiropractor/Physician

How a Need for Profit Led Health Care Providers to Crime
Post 5185
Posted on September 8, 2025 by Barry Zalma

See the full video at https://lnkd.in/gePN7rjm and at https://lnkd.in/gzPwr-9q

This is a Fictionalized True Crime Story of Insurance Fraud from an Expert who explains why Insurance Fraud is a “Heads I Win, Tails You Lose” situation for Insurers.

The Dishonest Chiropractor/Physician

How a Need for Profit Led Health Care Providers to Crime

See the full video at and at

This is a Fictionalized True Crime Story of Insurance Fraud from an Expert who explains why Insurance Fraud is a “Heads I Win, Tails You Lose” situation for Insurers. The story is designed to help to Understand How Insurance Fraud in America is Costing Everyone who Buys Insurance Thousands of Dollars Every year and Why Insurance Fraud is Safer and More Profitable for the ­­­Perpetrators than any Other Crime.

How Elderly Doctors Fund their ...

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September 03, 2025

Barry Zalma: Insurance Claims Expert Witness
Posted on September 3, 2025 by Barry Zalma
The Need for a Claims Handling Expert to Defend or Prove a Tort of Bad Faith Suit

© 2025 Barry Zalma, Esq., CFE

When I finished my three year enlistment in the US Army as a Special Agent of US Army Intelligence in 1967, I sought employment where I could use the investigative skills I learned in the Army. After some searching I was hired as a claims trainee by the Fireman’s Fund American Insurance Company. For five years, while attending law school at night while working full time as an insurance adjuster I became familiar with every aspect of the commercial insurance industry.

On January 2, 1972 I was admitted to the California Bar. I practiced law, specializing in insurance claims, insurance coverage and defense of claims against people insured and defense of insurance companies sued for breach of contract and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. After 45 years as an active lawyer, I asked that my license to practice law be declared inactive ...

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