Marine Insurer May Dispose of Vessel to Avoid Waste
Post 5249
Read the full article at https://lnkd.in/gfn_UHdp, see the video at https://lnkd.in/gDWVccnr and at https://lnkd.in/gv9nsBqk, and https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5200 posts.
In Western World Insurance Company v. The Estate Of Shawn Arsenault, No. 25-cv-13413-PGL, United States District Court, D. Massachusetts (December 17, 2025) the USDC was asked to resolve a marine insurance dispute after the sinking of the F/V Seahorse, a commercial fishing vessel, off Cape Cod on June 8, 2025. The vessel’s owner and operator, Shawn Arsenault, died in the incident.
Western World Insurance Company issued a hull insurance policy for the vessel. With no personal representative yet appointed for the estate, the insurer cannot determine the proper payee for the insurance proceeds.
The insurer paid for the vessel’s recovery and removal, and the vessel is now with a salvage company, incurring substantial storage fees. The insurer determined the loss is covered under the policy.
LEGAL ISSUES AND COURT’S ANALYSIS
The insurer sought three forms of preliminary relief:
1. Permission for its counsel to hold the insurance proceeds in trust (IOLTA account) for the estate.
2. Authorization to deduct $1,701 from the proceeds for an unpaid premium.
3. Permission to dispose of the wrecked vessel to stop further storage fees.
COURT’S RULINGS
Insurance Proceeds:
The court allowed the insurer’s counsel to temporarily hold the insurance proceeds in trust, ensuring they remain available for the rightful recipient once determined.
Unpaid Premium Deduction:
The court denied the request to deduct the unpaid premium at this time, citing lack of urgency and insufficient documentation. This issue can be addressed after a personal representative is appointed.
Disposal of Vessel:
The court permitted the insurer to dispose of the vessel, finding that further delay would result in unnecessary waste due to mounting storage fees and lack of salvage value.
KEY LEGAL TAKEAWAYS
With the policy proceeds secured in the IOLTA account of Plaintiff’s counsel, there is no serious risk that the monies will be lost or diverted. For that reason the court balanced the urgency of stopping storage fees against the need to protect estate assets and ensure proper distribution of insurance proceeds. Temporary custodianship of insurance funds by counsel was found to be appropriate pending probate.
The USDC concluded that disposal of insured property may be authorized to prevent waste when estate administration is delayed.
ZALMA OPINION
On rare occasions courts reach a decision based on what is fair and apply common sense to a legal dispute. The vessel was recovered by the insurer and stored it while the insured’s estate does nothing to appoint a representative to take the claims payments and make a decision with regard to the salvage. Since it makes no sense to leave the damaged vessel in storage and to make the insurer work in probate court to learn who to pay, like Solomon Judge Paul G. Levenson allowed the Plaintiff’s lawyer to hold the money owed in his trust account for the estate and dispose of the vessel to stop the waste of payment of storage fees.
(c) 2025 Barry Zalma & ClaimSchool, Inc.
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Commit Insurance Fraud While on Probation Violation Requires Jail
Post number 5322
Read the full article at https://lnkd.in/gfnYSb8a, see the video at https://lnkd.in/gEu8EzYq and at https://lnkd.in/gzrJdPfC and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5300 posts.
Jail is Necessary When Probation is Violated
In United States of America v. Sabine Oltmann, No. 25-60578, United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit (April 9, 2026), Sabine Oltmann pleaded guilty to unauthorized opening of mail by a postal employee and was sentenced to two years’ probation.
Just two months into that term, however, she violated the conditions of her probation by submitting a false insurance claim and falsely reporting a crime. The district court revoked her probation and sentenced her to twelve months’ imprisonment followed by twelve months of supervised release.
Oltmann contended that this above-Guidelines revocation sentence is substantively unreasonable.
The USCA reviewes probation-revocation sentences under the ...
Commit Insurance Fraud While on Probation Violation Requires Jail
Post number 5322
Read the full article at https://lnkd.in/gfnYSb8a, see the video at https://lnkd.in/gEu8EzYq and at https://lnkd.in/gzrJdPfC and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5300 posts.
Jail is Necessary When Probation is Violated
In United States of America v. Sabine Oltmann, No. 25-60578, United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit (April 9, 2026), Sabine Oltmann pleaded guilty to unauthorized opening of mail by a postal employee and was sentenced to two years’ probation.
Just two months into that term, however, she violated the conditions of her probation by submitting a false insurance claim and falsely reporting a crime. The district court revoked her probation and sentenced her to twelve months’ imprisonment followed by twelve months of supervised release.
Oltmann contended that this above-Guidelines revocation sentence is substantively unreasonable.
The USCA reviewes probation-revocation sentences under the ...
There is no Privity Between Adjuster & an Insured
A Claim Against an Insurer for Wrongful Conduct Cannot Be Maintained Against Its Adjuster
Post number 5321
See the video at https://lnkd.in/gH6wPd45 and at https://lnkd.in/gB-7JpHZ and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5300 posts.
In Lambert v. SafePort Insurance Company, et al., Civil Action No. 25-1446 (E.D. La. Apr. 2, 2026) (Morgan, J.) Plaintiff Lisa Lambert held a homeowner’s insurance policy issued by SafePort Insurance Company covering her property against windstorms and wind damage. After two separate windstorms damaged her home (the “First Wind Claim” and “Second Wind Claim”), she promptly reported both losses and attempted to mitigate damages.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
SageSure Insurance Managers LLC acted as the claims adjuster/manager for SafePort. In both instances:
A field adjuster inspected the property and denied coverage, attributing the damage to “foundation settling as a result of earth movement” (an excluded peril that allegedly caused water pooling on the ...
ZIFL – Volume 30, Issue 7 – April 1, 2026
THE SOURCE FOR THE INSURANCE FRAUD PROFESSIONAL
Post number 5314
Posted on April 1, 2026 by Barry Zalma
Zalma’s Insurance Fraud Letter (ZIFL) continues its 30th year of publication dedicated to those involved in reducing the effect of insurance fraud. ZIFL is published 24 times a year by ClaimSchool and is written by Barry Zalma. It is provided FREE to anyone who visits the site at http://zalma.com/zalmas-insurance-fraud-letter-2/ This issue contains the following articles about insurance fraud:
No One is Above the Law – Not Even a Police Officer
Police Officer Convicted for Fraud in Reporting an Accident Affirmed
Police Officer Should never Lie about Results of Chase
In State Of Ohio v. Anthony Holmes, No. 115123, 2026-Ohio-736, Court of Appeals of Ohio, Eighth District, Cuyahoga (March 5, 2026) a police officer appealed criminal conviction as a result of lies about a high speed chase.
Read the following article and the full issue of ZIFL at https://zalma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/ZIFL-04-01-2026-1.pdf...
ZIFL – Volume 30, Issue 7 – April 1, 2026
THE SOURCE FOR THE INSURANCE FRAUD PROFESSIONAL
Post number 5314
Posted on April 1, 2026 by Barry Zalma
Zalma’s Insurance Fraud Letter (ZIFL) continues its 30th year of publication dedicated to those involved in reducing the effect of insurance fraud. ZIFL is published 24 times a year by ClaimSchool and is written by Barry Zalma. It is provided FREE to anyone who visits the site at http://zalma.com/zalmas-insurance-fraud-letter-2/ This issue contains the following articles about insurance fraud:
No One is Above the Law – Not Even a Police Officer
Police Officer Convicted for Fraud in Reporting an Accident Affirmed
Police Officer Should never Lie about Results of Chase
In State Of Ohio v. Anthony Holmes, No. 115123, 2026-Ohio-736, Court of Appeals of Ohio, Eighth District, Cuyahoga (March 5, 2026) a police officer appealed criminal conviction as a result of lies about a high speed chase.
Read the following article and the full issue of ZIFL at https://zalma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/ZIFL-04-01-2026-1.pdf...
Posted on March 30, 2026 by Barry Zalma
Insurance Fraud, a Way to Reduce Violent Crime
Post number 5313
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 helps 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.
She Taught Her Customers The Swoop And Squat:
Recently the California Insurance Department’s Fraud Division arrested a young woman in Los Angeles County for operating an insurance fraud school. She advertised her classes in the “Penny Saver” an advertising sheet distributed free to the public and a print version of Facebook, X Craig’s list. She had operated for several years teaching methods of committing automobile insurance fraud. Only after a police officer enrolled in one of her classes was she arrested.
Her defense ...
