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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June 04, 2025
Police Properly Charged Fraud Perpetrator

False Report of Theft of Vehicle Established
Post 5090

See the full video at https://lnkd.in/g-u7tmVR and at https://lnkd.in/gQWkDv23 and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5050 posts.

Creating a Fake Theft of Vehicle and Insurance Claim is a Crime

Shonda Brown faced multiple charges, including felonies related to false reporting and insurance fraud changed to class A misdemeanors such as tampering with public records and making false statements.

The case arose from allegations that Brown paid an informant to move her inoperable vehicle and then reported it stolen to the NYPD, despite evidence suggesting the vehicle had been tampered with and was found in a damaged state.

In The People of the State of New York v. Shonda Brown, Index No. CR-024423-24KN, 2025 NY Slip Op 25122, Criminal Court of the City of New York, Kings County (May 23, 2025) the Criminal Court concluded that the charges were appropriately filed and rejected Brown’s motion to dismiss.

Sufficiency of the Accusatory Instrument

The court assessed whether the accusatory instrument met the legal standards for facial sufficiency. The court concluded that the instrument adequately designated the offenses and provided reasonable cause to believe that Brown committed the alleged crimes. The court noted that the statement of Fire Marshal Joseph Hayes (“FM Hayes”) of the New York City Fire Department (“FDNY”) and the supporting deposition from the informant, Mohammed, provided sufficient factual basis to support the charges. Furthermore, FM Hayes’ averment that he “observed All-State Insurance records to show defendant filed an insurance claim for said vehicle,” taken together with his averment that he was informed that defendant paid Mohammed to move defendant’s vehicle, satisfied the reasonable cause standard to the extent that defendant was informed of the accusations, i.e., making sworn false statements in violation of PL § § 210.35, 210.45, and provided her with enough information as to the defenses available.

The court highlighted that non-hearsay allegations were present in the instrument, which included the details of the vehicle’s condition and the actions taken by Brown and although some statements were deemed hearsay, they were remedied by the supporting deposition that confirmed their truthfulness.

Validity of the People’s Certificate of Compliance

The court found that the prosecution exercised due diligence in disclosing discoverable materials. The absence of certain items, such as recordings or police reports, did not invalidate the certificate as the prosecution demonstrated that these items did not exist.

Discovery Obligations

The prosecution was required to disclose all relevant materials, including those that could potentially exculpate Brown.

Speedy Trial Considerations

The court analyzed the timelines related to the speedy trial rights of the defendant. The original felony complaint was filed on June 13, 2024, and the charges were reduced on October 23, 2024. The court calculated the elapsed time and determined that the prosecution had complied with the speedy trial requirements, as they acted within the six-month period mandated by law.

Therefore, the court denied the defendant’s motion to dismiss the charges, affirming that the legal proceedings adhered to the necessary protocols and standards and defendant’s motion to dismiss was denied.

ZALMA OPINION

People who commit insurance fraud, like Ms. Brown, refuse to accept the fact that they were caught and charged with crimes relating to their attempt at fraud. Ms. Brown attempted to avoid the charges by a motion to dismiss with charges of wrongdoing by the police and the prosecution without a factual basis. She will go to trial on the charges and there is a good chance she will be convicted or plead guilty before trial.

(c) 2025 Barry Zalma & ClaimSchool, Inc.

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00:06:48
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17 hours ago
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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17 hours ago
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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November 05, 2025
Not Nice to Shop the Federal Court to Avoid State Court

Who’s on First? State or Federal Court

Post 5222

Read the full article at https://lnkd.in/gWj97cFs, see the video at https://lnkd.in/gtS6CpUX and at https://lnkd.in/gQEAeyHc,

Conflict Between State & Federal Court Requires Abstention

See the video at https://lnkd.in/gtS6CpUX and at https://lnkd.in/gQEAeyHc,

Conflict Between State & Federal Court Requires Abstention

Hector David Campoverde was injured at a Brooklyn construction site in 2015. Campoverde was an employee of Vazquez Bro Restoration Inc., a subcontractor for C.C.C. Renovation Inc., which was itself a subcontractor for general contractor L&M Builders Group LLC. In Starr Indemnity & Liability Company v. Scottsdale Insurance Company, No. 24-CV-3309 (PKC) (TAM), United States District Court, E.D. New York (September 30, 2025) was asked to determine whether one or more of the involved insurers is obligated to indemnify Campoverde, and in what order Camporverde can receive indemnity, from one or more insurer.

Underlying Incident:

Campoverde sued the ...

00:07:43
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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