See the full video at https://rumble.com/v6vkjrv-zalmas-insurance-fraud-letter-july-1-2025.html and at https://youtu.be/_rIBWqPcJDQ
ZIFL – Volume 29 No. 13 – July 1, 2025
Post 5111
Uber Technologies Inc. sued a group of lawyers, medical providers and rideshare drivers it claims staged car accidents, manufactured damages and received unnecessary medical procedures to take advantage of insurance policies in Florida, costing the rideshare giant “several million dollars” in legal fees.
Uber accused the group of conspiring to “generate an excuse to deliver unnecessary medical care, submit false insurance claims for recovery and file frivolous lawsuits to sue for non-existent damages” between 2023 and 2024. The five drivers named in the suit were “recruited with bribes to stage accidents,” Uber said in the federal suit filed in south Florida. The group recruited claimants who took their cars to designated body shops to manufacture the “false impression that the accidents resulted in injury,” the company said.
Read the full article and the full 19 pages of the issue of ZIFL at http://zalma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ZIFL-07-01-2025.pdf
Health Insurance Fraud Convictions
Fugitive Physician Sentenced to Prison in Medicare Fraud Scheme
Lilit Gagikovna Baltaian, 61, a Porter Ranch, California physician was sentenced June 12, 2025 in Los Angeles to 54 months in prison for health care fraud arising from her false home health certifications and related fraudulent billings to Medicare. She is a fugitive and was sentenced in absentia.
According to court documents Baltaian was a physician licensed to practice in California and an enrolled Medicare provider. From January 2012 to July 2018, she falsely certified patients to receive home health care from at least four Los Angeles area home health agencies. These certifications were used by the home health agencies to fraudulently bill Medicare. In some instances, Baltaian pre-signed blank, undated physician certification forms knowing that the home health agencies would falsify the forms to make appear that she had seen the Medicare beneficiaries and made clinical findings to support the need for home health care, when she had done neither. Baltaian received cash payments related to these referrals and also separately billed Medicare for signing the fraudulent certifications.
Read the full article and the full 19 pages of the issue of ZIFL at http://zalma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ZIFL-07-01-2025.pdf
Prisoner’s Loses Suit Against Sheriff for Failure to Exhaust Administrative Remedies
Creative Litigation Fails Because Crime Does not Pay
Prisoner Acting as His Own Lawyer Misses Prerequisite to His Suit
In this pro se prisoner case brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, United States Magistrate Judge Bradley W. Rath’s Report and Recommendation recommends that Defendants Sheriff John Ledbetter, Geneva Drummond, and VitalCore’s Motions for Summary Judgment be granted, that Plaintiff Monnie Villarreal’s Motion to Amend be denied as moot, and that the Court dismiss this case without prejudice for failure to exhaust administrative remedies.
In Monnie Villarreal v. Vitalcore, et al. No. 1:24-cv-99-HSO-BWR, United States District Court, S.D. Mississippi, (June 18, 2025) the District Judge adopted Magistrate Judge’s Report and Recommendation as the opinion of the Court.
Read the full article and the full 19 pages of the issue of ZIFL at http://zalma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ZIFL-07-01-2025.pdf
WHAT IS NEEDED TO DETER INSURANCE FRAUD?
To do so the insurers must train their staff to recognize the elements of both the crime of insurance fraud and the elements of the civil tort of insurance fraud. If well trained, insurance personnel collecting information about a potential insurance fraud, will know the type and quality of information that either a prosecutor or a civil defense lawyer will need to prove fraud was attempted.
Read the full article and the full 19 pages of the issue of ZIFL at http://zalma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ZIFL-07-01-2025.pdf
FRAUD CONVICTIONS FOR OTHER THAN HEALTH INSURANCE FRAUD
Founder of Lender Service Provider Convicted for Role in Multimillion-Dollar PPP Fraud Scheme
Stephanie Hockridge, a founder of the lender service provider Blueacorn, was convicted by a Federal Jury in connection with a scheme to fraudulently obtain tens of millions of dollars in COVID-19 relief money guaranteed by the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
Read the full article and the full 19 pages of the issue of ZIFL at http://zalma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ZIFL-07-01-2025.pdf
Bad Faith Set-Ups
Bad faith insurance claims are successful when a plaintiff can prove that the insurance company wrongfully denied an insurance claim and deprived the insured of the benefits of the contract of insurance without good cause. Bad faith insurance suits can arise in the context of any insurance policy.
Read the full article and the full 19 pages of the issue of ZIFL at http://zalma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ZIFL-07-01-2025.pdf
BARRY ZALMA
Barry Zalma, Esq., CFE, Barry Zalma, Inc., 4441 Sepulveda Boulevard, CULVER CITY CA 90230-4847, 310-390-4455
[email protected], http://www.zalma.com, http://zalma.com/blog; Subscribe to “Excellence in Claims Handling” at href=”https://barryzalma.substack.com/subscribe.”> “Excellence in Claims Handling” at href=“https://barryzalma.substack.com/subscribe.”> a href=“https://barryzalma.substack.com/subscribe.”>
Go to the podcast Zalma On Insurance at https://anchor.fm/barry-zalma, Go to Zalma’s Insurance Fraud Letter at https://zalma.com/zalmas-insurance-fraud-letter-2/ 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, https://gettr.com/@zalma, Go to Barry Zalma on YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCysiZklEtxZsSF9DfC0Expg, Go to the Insurance Claims Library – https://zalma.com/blog/insurance-claims-library/
Read the full article and the full 19 pages of the issue of ZIFL at http://zalma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ZIFL-07-01-2025.pdf
Interpleader Protects All Claimants Against Life Policy and the Insurer
Who’s on First to Get Life Insurance Proceeds
Post 5184
See the full video at https://lnkd.in/gyxQfnUz and at https://lnkd.in/gAd3wqWP, and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5150 posts.
Go to X @bzalma; Go to Barry Zalma videos at Rumble.com at https://lnkd.in/gRthzSnT; Go to Barry Zalma on YouTube- https://lnkd.in/g2hGv88; Go to the Insurance Claims Library – https://lnkd.in/gwEYk.
Interpleader Protects All Claimants Against Life Policy and the Insurer
In Metropolitan Life Insurance Company v. Selena Sanchez, et al, No. 2:24-cv-03278-TLN-CSK, United States District Court, E.D. California (September 3, 2025) the USDC applied interpleader law.
Case Overview
This case involves an interpleader action brought by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (Plaintiff-in-Interpleader) against Selena Sanchez and other defendants (Defendants-in-Interpleader).
Key Points
Plaintiff-in-Interpleader’s Application:
The Plaintiff-in-Interpleader...
A Claim by Any Other Name is not a Claim
Post 5182
It is Imperative that Insured Report Potential Claim to Insurers
Read the full article at https://lnkd.in/gfbwAsxw, See the full video at https://lnkd.in/gea_hgB3 and at https://lnkd.in/ghZ7gjxy, and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5150 posts.
In Jeffrey B. Scott v. Certain Underwriters At Lloyd’s, London, Subscribing To Policy No. B0901li1837279, RLI Insurance Company, Certain Underwriters At Lloyds, London And The Insurance Company, Subscribing To Policy No. B0180fn2102430, No. 24-12441, United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit (August 25, 2025) the court explained the need for a claim to obtain coverage.
Case Background:
This appeal arises from a coverage dispute under a Directors & Officers (D&O) insurance policy. Jeffrey B. Scott, the plaintiff-appellant, was terminated from his role as CEO, President, and Secretary of Gemini Financial Holdings, LLC in October 2019. Following his termination, Scott threatened legal action against Gemini, and ...
A Claim by Any Other Name is not a Claim
Post 5182
It is Imperative that Insured Report Potential Claim to Insurers
Read the full article at https://lnkd.in/gfbwAsxw, See the full video at https://lnkd.in/gea_hgB3 and at https://lnkd.in/ghZ7gjxy, and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5150 posts.
In Jeffrey B. Scott v. Certain Underwriters At Lloyd’s, London, Subscribing To Policy No. B0901li1837279, RLI Insurance Company, Certain Underwriters At Lloyds, London And The Insurance Company, Subscribing To Policy No. B0180fn2102430, No. 24-12441, United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit (August 25, 2025) the court explained the need for a claim to obtain coverage.
Case Background:
This appeal arises from a coverage dispute under a Directors & Officers (D&O) insurance policy. Jeffrey B. Scott, the plaintiff-appellant, was terminated from his role as CEO, President, and Secretary of Gemini Financial Holdings, LLC in October 2019. Following his termination, Scott threatened legal action against Gemini, and ...
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 ...
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 and became a consultant and expert witness for lawyers representing insurers and lawyers ...
APPRAISAL AWARD SETS AMOUNT OF DAMAGES RECOVERED FROM INSURER
Post 5180
See the full video at https://rumble.com/v6yd2z0-evidence-required-to-prove-breach-of-contract.html and at https://youtu.be/2ywEjs3hZsw, and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5150 posts.
It’s a Waste of Time to Sue Your Insurer if You Don’t Have Evidence
Evidence Required to Prove Breach of Contract
Read the full article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/evidence-required-prove-breach-contract-barry-zalma-esq-cfe-rfelc, see the full video at https://rumble.com/v6yd2z0-evidence-required-to-prove-breach-of-contract.html and at https://youtu.be/2ywEjs3hZsw, and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5150 posts.
It’s a Waste of Time to Sue Your Insurer if You Don’t Have Evidence
In Debbie Beaty and Jonathan Hayes v. Homeowners Of America Insurance Company, No. 01-23-00844-CV, Court of Appeals of Texas, First District (August 26, 2025) Debbie Beaty and Jonathan Hayes filed a claim under their homeowner’s insurance policy with Homeowners of ...
