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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 03, 2024
An Appellate Court Will Not Change a Plea Contract

INVITED ERROR MAKES SENTENCE REMAIN UNCHANGED
Post 4865

Read the full article at https://lnkd.in/gJj9f2wX, see the full video at https://lnkd.in/gE2GD2uw and at https://lnkd.in/gudz4RzA and https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 4850 posts.

Travis Darrell Gentry pled guilty to insurance fraud by presenting to insurer or person false or altered statement material to insurance, Idaho Code § 41-293(1)(c). Pursuant to a plea agreement, in exchange for his guilty plea, additional charges were dismissed. In State Of Idaho v. Travis Darrell Gentry, No. 51304, Court of Appeals of Idaho (August 21, 2024) the issue was resolved.As part of the plea agreement, both parties recommended a sentence of three years, with a minimum period of incarceration of one year, and three years of probation. The district court followed the recommendation and imposed a unified sentence of three years, with a minimum period of incarceration of one year, suspended the sentence, and placed Gentry on a term of probation for three years.

Mindful that he received the sentence that he requested, Gentry appealed contending that his sentence is excessive.

ANALYSIS

Although Gentry received the sentence he asked for, he asserts that the district court abused its discretion by imposing an excessive sentence.
The doctrine of invited error applies to estop a party from asserting an error when his or her own conduct induces the commission of the error. One may not complain of errors one has consented to or acquiesced in. This doctrine applies to sentencing decisions as well as rulings made during trial.

Therefore, because Gentry received the sentence he requested, he may not complain that the district court abused its discretion in sentencing. Accordingly, the judgment of conviction and sentence are affirmed.

ZALMA OPINION

Insurance criminals are narcissists. They think they can convince anyone of anything. Mr. Gentry was wrong. He agreed to a sentence in exchange for the state dropping some of the charges, he had nothing to complain about but did so anyway. The court made him stand by his agreement even if it was more than was appropriate it was the deal he made and he was required to serve the time. It takes a great deal of gall to try to set aside an agreement made between Gentry, his lawyer, the prosecutor and the trial judge. He will serve the time.

(c) 2024 Barry Zalma & ClaimSchool, Inc.

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00:04:45
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November 07, 2025
Motion for Summary Judgment Fail Because Insurer Failed to Carry Burden

Motion for Summary Judgment Requires Evidence Establishing Defenses

Post 5223

Read the full article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/motion-summary-judgment-fail-because-insurer-failed-zalma-esq-cfe-jhfsc, see the video at and at and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5200 posts.

In Michael Tillema, Kim Til- Lema v. Meridian Security Insurance Company, No. SA-24-CV-00661-JKP, United States District Court, W.D. Texas, San Antonio Division (October 7, 2025) Plaintiffs Michael Tillema and Kim Til-Lema claimed coverage from Meridian Security Insurance Company for benefits for alleged wind and hail damage from a storm on April 26, 2022.

Meridian Security Insurance Company denied the claim, citing inspection reports and weather data indicating no hail event occurred on the alleged date. Plaintiffs hired an independent contractor, who also found no hail within one mile of the property on the ...

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November 06, 2025
Man Bites Dog Story – Hertz Sues Alleged Fraudsters

Hertz Succesfully Refuses to Pay Alleged Fraudulent Health Care Providers

Post 5222

Read the full article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/man-bites-dog-story-hertz-sues-alleged-fraudsters-zalma-esq-cfe-efbgc, see the video at and at and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5200 posts.

Proactive Victim of Fraud Defeats Health Care Providers

In Hertz Vehicles, LLC v. Alignment Chiropractic, P.C., et al, Index No. 157368/2024, 2025 NY Slip Op 33627(U), Motion Seq. No. 001, NYSCEF Doc. No. 46, Supreme Court, New York County (September 30, 2025) Plaintiff alleged it is not obligated to pay no-fault benefits for the medical treatment of defendants for injuries while occupants of a 2023 Hyundai, owned and self-insured by Hertz.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

Plaintiff moved for a default judgment against defendants Alignment Chiropractic, P.C., and many other alleged health care providers.

Plaintiff also ...

00:06:28
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November 06, 2025
Man Bites Dog Story – Hertz Sues Alleged Fraudsters

Hertz Succesfully Refuses to Pay Alleged Fraudulent Health Care Providers

Post 5222

Read the full article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/man-bites-dog-story-hertz-sues-alleged-fraudsters-zalma-esq-cfe-efbgc, see the video at and at and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5200 posts.

Proactive Victim of Fraud Defeats Health Care Providers

In Hertz Vehicles, LLC v. Alignment Chiropractic, P.C., et al, Index No. 157368/2024, 2025 NY Slip Op 33627(U), Motion Seq. No. 001, NYSCEF Doc. No. 46, Supreme Court, New York County (September 30, 2025) Plaintiff alleged it is not obligated to pay no-fault benefits for the medical treatment of defendants for injuries while occupants of a 2023 Hyundai, owned and self-insured by Hertz.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

Plaintiff moved for a default judgment against defendants Alignment Chiropractic, P.C., and many other alleged health care providers.

Plaintiff also moved...

00:06:28
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October 31, 2025
The Zalma Philosophy of Claims Handling – Part 9

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 ...

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October 20, 2025
The Zalma Philosophy of Claims Handling – Part I

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 ...

post photo preview
October 20, 2025
The Zalma Philosophy of Claims Handling – Part I

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 ...

post photo preview
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