Court Restrains Health Care Providers Attempts at Fraud
Post 5080
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USDC Holds Fraud in Abeyance
Illegal Financial Arrangements Between Health Care Professionals Stopped
In Government Employees Insurance Company, GEICO Indemnity Company, GEICO General Insurance Company and GEICO Casualty Company v. Akiva Imaging Inc., Rashbi Diagnostics Imaging Inc., et. al, No. 1:24-CV-6549 (FB) (JAM), United States District Court, E.D. New York (May 19, 2025)
Plaintiffs:
GEICO companies collectively referred to as “Plaintiffs” or “GEICO” .
Defendants:
Akiva Imaging Inc., Rashbi Diagnostics Imaging Inc., and other health care providers “Defendants.”
Massiveness Of Fraudulent Scheme:
Defendants contend that the scheme here does not reach the size and complexity required by the Circuit in Tri-Borough to find serious questions going to the merits and to apply the exceptions to the FAA and AIA. Serious questions exist by virtue of the scheme’s complexity the complaint “describes a web of interconnected relationships among the various Defendants, and illegal financial arrangements tying many of the Defendants together,” among other things.
Allegations:
GEICO alleges that Defendants committed civil violations under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), common law fraud, unjust enrichment, and aiding and abetting fraud. GEICO sought a declaratory judgment that Defendants may not recover on any of the outstanding bills submitted to it .
Court’s Decision:
GEICO’s motion was granted and Defendants’ motions are denied. The court found irreparable harm that warrants injunctive relief given the global and intertwined nature of the fraud. The balance of hardships tipped decidedly in GEICO’S favor.
Bond:
The court waived the Rule 65(c) bond requirement.
Conclusion:
Plaintiffs’ motion was granted and Defendants’ motions were denied. Defendants were enjoined from initiating new or proceeding with ongoing collections arbitrations and state-court suits.
ZALMA OPINION
This is a man bites dog story. GEICO as the victim of no fault insurance fraud by various health care providers scheming to present fraudulent health insurance claims to no fault auto insurers when, in fact, the patients were neither injured nor were they treated, just billed. The court stopped the bleeding. The trial would be very interesting where the victim of a fraud seeks indemnity from the alleged fraudsters.
(c) 2025 Barry Zalma & ClaimSchool, Inc.
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Louisiana Statute Prevents Enforcement of Contract Term Requiring Arbitration of Disputes
Post 5241
Read the full article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/international-convention-requiring-enforcement-award-barry-sttdc, see the video at and at and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5200 posts.
In Town of Vinton v. Indian Harbor Insurance Company, Nos. 24-30035, 24-30748, 24-30749, 24-30750, 24-30751, 24-30756, 24-30757, United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit (December 8, 2025) municipal entities including the Town of Vinton, et al sued domestic insurers after dismissing foreign insurers with prejudice. The insurers sought arbitration under the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (the “Convention”) but the court held Louisiana law — prohibiting arbitration clauses in such policies—controls, as the Convention does not apply absent foreign parties who ...
Refusal to Provide Workers’ Compensation is Expensive
Post 5240
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In Illinois Department of Insurance, Insurance Compliance Department v.USA Water And Fire Restoration, Inc., And Nicholas Pacella, Individually And As Officer, Nos. 23WC021808, 18INC00228, No. 25IWCC0467, the Illinois Department of Insurance (Petitioner) initiated an investigation after the Injured Workers’ Benefit Fund (IWBF) was added to a pending workers’ compensation claim. The claim alleged a work-related injury during employment with the Respondents who failed to maintain workers’ compensation Insurance.
Company Overview:
USA Water & Fire Restoration, Inc. was incorporated on January 17, 2014, and dissolved on June 14, 2019, for failure to file annual reports and pay franchise taxes. It then operated under assumed names including USA Board Up & Glass Co. and USA Plumbing and Sewer. The business ...
Arsonist Incompetently Moves Pro Se to Avoid Prison
Post 5239
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In Christopher A. Barosh v. Morris Houser, et al., Civ. No. 22-0769, United States District Court, E.D. Pennsylvania (November 25, 2025) a convicted arsonist and insurance fraudster moved the USDC acting in Pro se filed Objections to Magistrate Judge Reid’s Recommendation that the US District Judge dismiss his § 2254 Petition to avoid jail.
BACKGROUND
In October 2005, Barosh set fire to his girlfriend’s Philadelphia home — some 25 hours before the cancellation of the property’s insurance policy. Several witnesses saw Barosh leaving the property shortly before the fire erupted. After the fire, Barosh made “two separate admissions of guilt.”
He attempted to pay an acquaintance to provide him with an alibi for the time of the arson. The eyewitnesses, brother, and ...
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 ...
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 ...